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A♭ minor major 7th chord on bass (A♭mMaj7)
Also called or written A♭mMaj7, A♭minmaj7, A♭mmaj7, A♭mM7, A♭ Minor Sharp 7 or A♭ Minor ♯7
A♭ minor major 7th contains A♭, C♭, E♭, and G. Its 4th-fret position requires a wide stretch across all four strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7
How do you play an A♭ minor major 7th chord on bass?
A♭ minor major 7th is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 5 4: index finger on the E string at fret 4, pinky finger on the A string at fret 6, ring finger on the D string at fret 5 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 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (7) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 6th fret on the A string while the index stays at the 4th fret on the E string.
A♭minmaj7/G inversion · fret 1
A♭ minor major 7th is played at the 1st fret as 3 2 1 1: pinky finger on the E string at fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1 and middle finger on the G string at fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 4 | G (7) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
A♭minmaj7/G inversion · fret 13
A♭ minor major 7th is played at the 13th fret as 15 14 13 13: pinky finger on the E string at fret 15, ring finger on the A string at fret 14, index finger on the D string at fret 13 and middle finger on the G string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 15 | 4 | G (7) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ minor major 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7. The minor 3rd between A♭ and C♭ gives the chord its minor quality, while the major 7th between A♭ and G adds a leading tone. Contrast this with A♭ minor, which omits the major 7th.
What goes wrong with A♭ minor major 7th?
- Letting the pinky buzz on the A string at the 6th fret.
- Flattening the ring finger and deadening the D string at the 5th fret.
When to use it
Use A♭ minor major 7th in jazz or fusion lines where the major 7th adds tension. Pair it with A♭ minor or A♭ 5th for contrast.
Changing to and from A♭ minor major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 2nd fret gives F♯ minor major 7th.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 6th fret gives B♭ minor major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret position keeps A♭ in the bass for a grounded sound. The A♭minmaj7/G inversion places G in the bass, creating a smoother voice leading into chords like A♭ minor.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ minor major 7th written?
A♭ minor major 7th is written as A♭mmaj7, mmaj7, mM7, or A♭minmaj7. The root can be typed as Ab. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭ minor major 7th and A♭ minor 7th?
Its verified note order explains the sound without relying on outside harmony. The major 7th creates a leading tone that pulls strongly to the root.
Why does A♭ minor major 7th sound dissonant?
The minor 3rd (C♭) and major 7th (G) form an augmented 5th interval, which is unstable. This tension is characteristic of the minor major 7th chord.
Can I play A♭ minor major 7th in a higher register?
Yes, the A♭minmaj7/G inversion at the 13th fret places the major 7th in the bass. This voicing is useful for connecting to chords with G in the bass.