Ab Minor Chord (Abm) on Guitar
Abm (Ab minor) is made of the notes Ab – Cb – Eb. The easiest guitar fingering is 42110x (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
Higher position
How to play Abm
- Press the 6th string (low E) at fret 4 (Ab).
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 2 (Cb).
- Press the 4th string (D) at fret 1 (Eb).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 1 (Ab).
- Play the 2nd string (B) open (Cb).
- Do not play the 1st string (high e).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 4 | Ab | R |
| 5th string (A) | 2 | Cb | b3 |
| 4th string (D) | 1 | Eb | 5 |
| 3rd string (G) | 1 | Ab | R |
| 2nd string (B) | 0 (open) | Cb | b3 |
| 1st string (high e) | x (mute) | - |
What is a Ab minor chord?
A minor chord replaces the major third with a minor third, a half step lower. The root and perfect fifth stay the same.
Notes and formula. Abm contains Ab, Cb, Eb. Counted from the root Ab, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), 5 (perfect 5th). It is also written G#m; the two names sound identical and the name used depends on the key of the song.
Sound. Darker, more emotional and introspective than the major version of the same chord.
Where it is used. Minor chords give songs tension and melancholy. In a major key the ii, iii and vi chords are minor, and the vi chord is the relative minor, a favourite for ballads.
Tips for playing Abm
Learn each minor chord as a "major chord with one finger moved". Hearing the single-note change trains your ear to tell major from minor.
Common mistake: Playing the major shape by habit. Check the third: if you hear a bright sound where a sad one is needed, the third is wrong.
Keys that contain Abm
Abm is a diatonic chord, meaning it occurs naturally without accidentals, in these keys:
- E major – iii chord
- F# major – ii chord
- B major – vi chord
- C# minor – v chord
- Eb minor – iv chord
- Ab minor – i chord
Try it in a progression: browse chord progressions for every key.
Scales to play over Abm
Related chords
Abm chord FAQ
What notes are in a Abm chord?
Abm (Ab minor) contains the notes Ab, Cb, Eb. The formula is R–b3–5 relative to the root Ab.
How do you play Abm on guitar?
The most common shape for Abm is 42110x, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is Abm an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is Abm the same as G#m?
Yes. Ab and G# are enharmonic: they are the same pitch with different names, so Abm and G#m sound identical on guitar. The name used depends on the key of the song.
Which keys contain Abm?
Abm is a diatonic chord in E major (iii), F# major (ii), B major (vi), C# minor (v), Eb minor (iv), Ab minor (i).
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