A♭

A♭ is the ab major chord, spelled A♭ – C – E♭. the foundation triad — stable, bright, and the reference point every other chord colour is measured against.

The keys
C4C5C6
A♭ – C – E♭
Practise this chord

Plug in your MIDI keyboard and let Coach Tshepho drill you on A♭ — it plays the chord, names any wrong notes as you play, and moves you on when you nail it.

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What's inside A♭
NoteInterval from rootDegree
A♭Root1
CMajor 3rd3
E♭Perfect 5th5
Inversions
PositionKeys (low → high)
Root positionA♭4 – C5 – E♭5
1st inversionC5 – E♭5 – A♭5
2nd inversionE♭5 – A♭5 – C6
A working voicing

Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:

HandKeys
Left (shell)A♭2 – E♭3
Right (colour)C5 – E♭5
Where A♭ lives

As the I chord

A♭ → D♭ → E♭ → A♭

The classic I–IV–V–I motion with this chord as home.

In a ii–V–I

B♭m7 → E♭7 → A♭

The strongest cadence in harmony, resolving onto this chord.

Put A♭ under your fingers

Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.

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Worship songs that use A♭
Ungukuphila · Xolly Mncwango Wamuhle · Ntokozo Mbambo Unetulusa Muya Wanga (Psalms 23) · Takie Ndou Nginobufakazi · Mmuso Worship ft Oncemore Six Behlanziwe · Joyous Celebration Themba Lendalo Yonke · Oncemore Six Basuka · Ayanda Ntanzi Ndenzel’ Uncedo · Joyous Celebration Mabothakga · Fisbo Jesus Iye · Nathaniel Bassey Sefapanong Ke Bohang · Eternal Glory Church Worship
Take it further
Build a progression with it → Reharmonize it →
More Ab chords
A♭m A♭dim A♭aug A♭sus2 A♭sus4 A♭6 A♭m6 A♭7 A♭maj7 A♭m7 A♭m7♭5 A♭dim7 A♭m(maj7) A♭9 A♭maj9 A♭m9 A♭add9 A♭6/9 A♭m11 A♭13 A♭7♭9 A♭7♯9 A♭7♯5
Major in every key
C C♯ D E♭ E F F♯ G A B♭ B
Play it over a groove
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