Piano chord
A♭mA flat minor
- A♭1
- C♭♭3
- E♭5
- Notes
- 3
- Positions
- 3
- Span
- 7semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-5
How to play A♭m on piano
- Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 3 on C♭, 5 on E♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 3 on C♭, 1 on E♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A♭ – C♭ – E♭
1st inversion · C♭ – E♭ – A♭
2nd inversion · E♭ – A♭ – C♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
A♭m inversions
Use these 3 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on A♭; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: A♭Right hand 1-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: C♭Right hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-3-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
Chords that go with A♭m
The other chords of G sharp minor, the key where A♭m is home (i). Songs in this key move between them.
A♭m with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–C♭–E♭.
A♭m on other instruments
About the A♭m chord
To build A flat minor, take these 3 notes from the root up: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E♭ (5). A minor triad: the third is lowered by a semitone, which gives it the darker, softer sound. Move the middle key one key down from the major chord and you have it.
The keys are A♭ – C♭ – E♭, counted up from A♭; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 7 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold A♭m, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of A♭m the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–E♭–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–A♭–C♭).
Compared with A♭m7, A♭m leaves out G♭.
You meet A♭m in these keys: E major (iii), B major (vi), F sharp major (ii), C sharp minor (v), G sharp minor (i).
Questions
What notes are in the A♭m chord?
A♭m (A flat minor) has 3 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E♭ (5).
How many inversions does A♭m have?
A♭m can be played in 3 positions: Root position (A♭–C♭–E♭); 1st inversion (C♭–E♭–A♭); 2nd inversion (E♭–A♭–C♭).
What is the difference between A♭m and A♭m7?
Compared with A♭m7, A♭m leaves out G♭.
Can I play A♭m with one hand?
Yes. In root position A♭m spans 7 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.