Explore chords · Bass
A♭ minor chord on bass (A♭m)
Also called or written A♭m or A♭min
A♭ minor contains A♭, C♭, and E♭. The 4th fret shape is a compact four-fret stretch for intermediate players.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
How do you play an A♭ minor chord on bass?
A♭ minor is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 6 4: index finger on the E string at fret 4, ring finger on the A string at fret 6, pinky finger on the D string at fret 6 and middle finger on the G string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
IntermediateThe stretch between index on fret 4 and pinky on fret 6 requires moderate finger independence.
A♭min/C♭ inversion
A♭ minor is played at the 6th fret as 7 6 6 8: ring finger on the E string at fret 7, index finger on the A string at fret 6, middle finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
A♭min/E♭ inversion · fret 4
A♭ minor is played at the 4th fret as × 6 6 4: middle finger on the A string at fret 6, ring finger on the D string at fret 6 and index finger on the G string at fret 4. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 2 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 1 | C♭ (♭3) |
A♭min/E♭ inversion · fret 9
A♭ minor is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 9 ×: middle finger on the E string at fret 11, ring finger on the A string at fret 11 and index finger on the D string at fret 9. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ minor is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5. The minor 3rd between A♭ and C♭ gives the chord its minor quality. Compare with A♭ major, where the 3rd is C natural.
What goes wrong with A♭ minor?
- Letting the ring finger mute the D string by leaning on it.
- Fretting the G string with the middle finger too far from the fret, causing a dull note.
When to use it
A♭ minor suits funk and R&B bass lines. Pair it with E major for a classic IV movement.
Changing to and from A♭ minor
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 2nd fret gives F♯ minor.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 5th fret gives A minor.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret position has A♭ in the bass for a strong root. The A♭min/D♯ inversion at ×-6-6-4 puts E♭ in the bass, useful for stepwise motion.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ minor written?
A♭ minor is written as A♭m, A♭min, A♭−, or A♭mi. The ASCII root is Ab, so you may see Abm. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭ minor and A♭ major?
A♭ minor has a C♭, while A♭ major has a C natural. The minor 3rd makes the chord sound darker.
Can I play A♭ minor with a barre?
The default position does not require a barre. Each finger frets a separate string.