Also written A♭m7 or A♭min7
A♭ minor 7th contains A♭, C♭, E♭, and G♭. This advanced barre shape uses a full six-string barre with a pinky stretch to the sixth fret.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A♭ minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval between A♭ and G♭ gives the chord its relaxed, jazzy character. Compare it to A♭ minor, which stops at the fifth and sounds more closed.
A♭ minor 7th suits minor-key R&B and smooth jazz. It appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression in B major, where it is the vi chord. Pair it with A♭ minor or A♭ 5th for a lush, mellow sound.
The 4th fret barre voicing keeps A♭ in the bass and sounds full and dark. The 6th fret shape omits the low strings for a lighter, more focused sound; the 11th fret version is brighter and higher.
A♭ minor 7th is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 4 4 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Tip — The index finger must barre all six strings at the 4th fret while the pinky stretches to the 6th fret on the A string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
A♭ minor 7th is played at the 6th fret as × × 6 8 7 7: index finger on the D string at fret 6, pinky finger on the G string at fret 8, middle finger on the B string at fret 7 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 7. The low E and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 2 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
A♭ minor 7th is played at the 11th fret as × 11 13 11 12 11: barre your index finger across fret 11, pinky finger on the D string at fret 13 and ring finger on the B string at fret 12. The low E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
A♭ minor 7th is played in open position as × 2 1 1 0 2: ring finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The B string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | C♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 4 | G♭ (♭7) |
A♭ minor 7th is played at the 6th fret as 7 6 6 8 7 ×: barre your index finger across fret 6, middle finger on the low E string at fret 7, pinky finger on the G string at fret 8 and ring finger on the B string at fret 7. The high e string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 3 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
A♭ minor 7th is written A♭min7 or A♭m7. The ASCII root is Ab, so you may see Abmin7 or Abm7. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
A♭ minor 7th adds the ♭7, G♭, to the A♭ minor triad. The seventh gives the chord a more open, jazzy feel than the plain minor chord.
The full six-string barre requires even pressure across all strings. And the pinky must stretch to the 6th fret on the A string without muting the D string.
The 6th fret shape mutes the low E and A strings and uses a four-finger stretch without a barre. It sounds lighter and is easier to move between chords.