Cm/Ab chord on guitar

C Minor Over A Flat. Notes: C, Eb and G.

Cm/Ab guitar chord diagram, fret 3 position3fr××4Abbass3CR2Ebb31G5AbCEbG
Fret 3 position · Medium

How to play Cm/Ab

  1. Put your index finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 3 (G).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 4 (Eb).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 5 (C).
  4. Put your pinky finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 6 (Ab).
  5. Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the D string down.
Lowest note: Ab (the root)Strings played: 4 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play Cm/Ab

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
Cm/Ab guitar chord, fret 3 position3fr××4Abbass3CR2Ebb31G5AbCEbG

Fret 3 position

Medium
Cm/Ab guitar chord, barre at fret 86fr××1Abbass3Ebb33G53CRAbEbGC

Barre at fret 8

Medium
Cm/Ab guitar chord, barre at fret 88fr×4Abbass3CR1Ebb31G51CRAbCEbGC

Barre at fret 8

Hard
Cm/Ab guitar chord, barre at fret 1111fr×1Abbass3Ebb32G54CR1Ebb3AbEbGCEb

Barre at fret 11

Hard

Notes and theory

Croot
Ebb3 · minor third
G5 · perfect fifth

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 Cmin and C-.

Keys that use Cm/Ab

More C chords

All C guitar chords

Cm/Ab with another bass note

minor chords in every key

Questions

What notes are in the Cm/Ab chord?

Cm/Ab (C minor over A flat) is made of three notes: C (root), Eb (minor third) and G (perfect fifth). The slash means Ab is played as the lowest note.

How do you play Cm/Ab on guitar?

The easiest Cm/Ab is the "fret 3 position" shape. Put your index finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 3 (G). Put your middle finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 4 (Eb). Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 5 (C).

Is Cm/Ab hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated medium and uses 4 fretted notes.

What is the difference between Cm/Ab and C?

Only the third changes. C major uses a major third and sounds bright; C minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.

What key is Cm/Ab in?

Cm/Ab belongs to 6 keys: E flat major (as the vi chord), A flat major (as the iii chord), B flat major (as the ii chord), C minor (as the i chord), F minor (as the v chord) and G minor (as the iv 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.