A♭ major (A♭)

Also called G♯ major (G♯).

A major chord: root, major third and fifth. A stable, bright sound.

There’s no open shape: it’s played as a barre chord, starting at the 4th fret. It’s the home chord of the key of A♭ major; you’ll also find it in E♭ major and D♭ major.

Notes:: A♭, C, E♭.
Formula:: 1, 3, 5.
Difficulty:: Intermediate.
Strings played:: 6.

Chord diagram

e|--4--|
B|--4--|
G|--5--|
D|--6--|
A|--6--|
E|--4--|

Other positions

e|--11--|
B|--13--|
G|--13--|
D|--13--|
A|--11--|
E|--x---|

Capo tip: put the capo at the 1st fret and play the G major shape: you hear A♭ major, with no barre.The capo

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around A♭ major.

e|--4--|
B|--6--|
G|--6--|
D|--6--|
A|--4--|
E|--x--|

D♭ majorIV

e|--6--|
B|--8--|
G|--8--|
D|--8--|
A|--6--|
E|--x--|

E♭ majorV

e|--1--|
B|--1--|
G|--1--|
D|--3--|
A|--3--|
E|--1--|

F minorvi