Am/Ab chord on guitar
A Minor Over A Flat. Notes: A, C and E.
How to play Am/Ab
- Lay your index finger flat across the 3rd (G) to the 1st (high E) string at fret 5. This is the barre.
- Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 6 (Ab).
- Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the D string down.
All 4 ways to play Am/Ab
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Barre at fret 5
MediumBarre at fret 2
HardBarre at fret 5
HardBarre at fret 2
HardNotes and theory
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color. The formula is 1 b3 5, and you will also see it written as Amin and A-.
Keys that use Am/Ab
More A chords
All A guitar chordsAm/Ab with another bass note
minor chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the Am/Ab chord?
Am/Ab (A minor over A flat) is made of three notes: A (root), C (minor third) and E (perfect fifth). The slash means Ab is played as the lowest note.
How do you play Am/Ab on guitar?
The easiest Am/Ab is the "barre at fret 5" shape. Lay your index finger flat across the 3rd (G) to the 1st (high E) string at fret 5. This is the barre. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 6 (Ab). Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
Is Am/Ab hard to play on guitar?
Am/Ab has no open-string shape, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. The easiest one is rated medium.
What is the difference between Am/Ab and A?
Only the third changes. A major uses a major third and sounds bright; A minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is Am/Ab in?
Am/Ab belongs to 6 keys: C major (as the vi chord), F major (as the iii chord), G major (as the ii chord), D minor (as the v chord), E minor (as the iv chord) and A minor (as the i chord).
What does a minor chord sound like?
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color.