Also written A♭m or A♭min
A♭ minor is built from A♭, C♭, and E♭. This intermediate shape uses four fretted notes with no barre.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A♭ minor follows the formula 1, ♭3, 5. The minor 3rd between A♭ and C♭ gives the chord its dark quality. Compare it to A♭ major, which raises the ♭3 to a major 3rd.
A♭ minor is the vi chord in B major, appearing in the I–V–vi–IV progression as B–F♯–A♭ minor–E. It suits dark pop and minor-key ballads. Try it with E major for a common resolution.
The default A♭min/E♭ inversion places E♭ in the bass, giving a darker, less grounded sound. The 6th fret position has A♭ in the bass for a more rooted voicing.
A♭ minor is played at the 2nd fret as 4 3 4 2: ring finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the C string at fret 3, pinky finger on the E string at fret 4 and index finger on the A string at fret 2.
Tip — The pinky must fret the fourth fret on string 2 while the ring finger holds string 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 1 | C♭ (♭3) |
A♭ minor is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 4 2: index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, pinky finger on the E string at fret 4 and middle finger on the A string at fret 2.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
A♭ minor is played at the 3rd fret as 4 3 4 6: middle finger on the G string at fret 4, index finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
A♭ minor is played at the 6th fret as 8 8 7 6: ring finger on the G string at fret 8, pinky finger on the C string at fret 8, middle finger on the E string at fret 7 and index finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 3 | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
A♭ minor is played at the 6th fret as × 8 7 6: ring finger on the C string at fret 8, middle finger on the E string at fret 7 and index finger on the A string at fret 6. The G string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
A♭ minor is written A♭m, A♭min, A♭−, or A♭mi. On a keyboard, type Ab instead of A♭. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
A♭ minor has a C♭, while A♭ major has a C natural. That one semitone changes the chord from dark to bright.
The G string is muted to keep the bass note on the C string, which is A♭, the root of the chord.