Piano chord
A♭m7A flat minor seventh
- A♭1
- C♭♭3
- E♭5
- G♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play A♭m7 on piano
- Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 2 on C♭, 4 on E♭, 5 on G♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 4 on C♭, 2 on E♭, 1 on G♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭
1st inversion · C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭
2nd inversion · E♭ – G♭ – A♭ – C♭
3rd inversion · G♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
A♭m7 inversions
A♭m7 can be played in 4 positions. In root position A♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: C♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: G♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Chords that go with A♭m7
The other chords of G sharp minor, the key where A♭m7 is home (i7). Songs in this key move between them.
A♭m7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–C♭–E♭–G♭.
A♭m7 on other instruments
About the A♭m7 chord
A flat minor seventh has 4 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E♭ (5), G♭ (♭7). A minor seventh: a minor triad with the flat seventh. Softer than a plain minor chord, it is the ii chord of jazz and a favourite in R&B.
On the keyboard, start from A♭ and add the other notes above it: A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so A♭m7 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of A♭m7 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–E♭–G♭–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–G♭–A♭–C♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G♭ (G♭–A♭–C♭–E♭).
A♭m7 is A♭m with one note added: G♭.
Keys that contain A♭m7: E major (iii7), B major (vi7), F sharp major (ii7), C sharp minor (v7), G sharp minor (i7).
Questions
What notes are in the A♭m7 chord?
A♭m7 (A flat minor seventh) has 4 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E♭ (5), G♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does A♭m7 have?
A♭m7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (A♭–C♭–E♭–G♭); 1st inversion (C♭–E♭–G♭–A♭); 2nd inversion (E♭–G♭–A♭–C♭); 3rd inversion (G♭–A♭–C♭–E♭).
What is the difference between A♭m7 and A♭m?
A♭m7 is A♭m with one note added: G♭.
Can I play A♭m7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position A♭m7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.