A♭ Minor Guitar Chord (A♭m)
A♭ minor is a three-note chord built from A♭ (the root), C♭ (the minor third), and E♭ (the perfect fifth). It sounds somber and reflective next to its major cousin — same root and fifth, but the lowered third pulls the mood into moodier territory. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
A♭m chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 1, your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2, and your pinky finger on the low E (6th) string at fret 4. Keep the B (2nd) and high E (1st) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the low E (6th) string.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | A♭ |
| ♭3 | minor third | C♭ (same pitch as B) |
| 5 | perfect fifth | E♭ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see A♭m in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More A♭ chords
Nearby minor chords
A♭m FAQ
What notes are in A♭m?
A♭m contains A♭, C♭, and E♭ — the root (A♭), the minor third, and the perfect fifth.
Is A♭m a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest A♭m shape (4-2-1-1-x-x) needs no barre — it uses 4 fingers. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 4, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.
What is the easiest way to play A♭m on guitar?
Start with the 1fr shape 4-2-1-1-x-x. Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 1, your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2, and your pinky finger on the low E (6th) string at fret 4. Keep the B (2nd) and high E (1st) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the low E (6th) string.