A#/Ab chord on guitar
A Sharp Major Over A Flat, also written Bb/Ab. Notes: A#, D and F.
How to play A#/Ab
- Lay your index finger flat across the 4th (D) to the 1st (high E) string at fret 6. This is the barre.
- Put your middle finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 7 (D).
- 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 A#/Ab
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Barre at fret 6
MediumBarre at fret 3
HardBarre at fret 3
HardBarre at fret 10
HardNotes and theory
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as A#maj and A#M. Strictly by music theory the notes are spelled A#, C## and E#; C## is the same key as D and E# is the same key as F.
Keys that use A#/Ab
More A# chords
All A# guitar chordsA#/Ab with another bass note
major chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the A#/Ab chord?
A#/Ab (A sharp major over A flat) is made of three notes: A# (root), D (major third) and F (perfect fifth). The slash means Ab is played as the lowest note.
How do you play A#/Ab on guitar?
The easiest A#/Ab is the "barre at fret 6" shape. Lay your index finger flat across the 4th (D) to the 1st (high E) string at fret 6. This is the barre. Put your middle finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 7 (D). Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
Is A#/Ab hard to play on guitar?
A#/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 A#/Ab and A#m?
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 A#/Ab in?
A#/Ab belongs to 6 keys: E flat major (as the V chord), F major (as the IV chord), B flat major (as the I chord), C minor (as the VII chord), D minor (as the VI chord) and G minor (as the III chord).
What does a major chord sound like?
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.