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Abmaj7 Chord

Abmaj7 adds G, a major seventh, to the A flat major triad. The seventh sits a semitone below the root above it, giving a settled chord a close, unresolved edge.

  • Notes: A flat-C-E flat-G
  • Symbol: Abmaj7
  • Imaj7 in Ab major
  • Major seventh
Switch chordAbmaj7

How to play an Abmaj7 chord

Notes: Ab - C - Eb - G · symbol Abmaj7

  • Root position

    Ab - C - Eb - G
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 1st inversion

    C - Eb - G - Ab
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-4-2-1

  • 2nd inversion

    Eb - G - Ab - C
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 3rd inversion

    G - Ab - C - Eb
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

Where does Abmaj7 belong?

All four notes come from the A flat major scale, where Abmaj7 can be the home chord.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In Ab majorHome, jazz style
    Imaj7

    The end point of a ii-V-I in Ab: a resting chord with a soft glow.

    Bbm7ii7Eb7V7Abmaj7Imaj7
  • In Eb majorA dreamy step away
    IVmaj7

    Swaying between Ebmaj7 and this chord is a staple of soul and bossa nova.

    Ebmaj7Imaj7Abmaj7IVmaj7
  • In C minorMinor-key color
    bVImaj7

    In C minor it brings in warmth before the music turns back home.

    CmiAbmaj7bVImaj7BbbVIICmi

Progressions to try

  • Bbm7Eb7Abmaj7

    Abmaj7 is the Imaj7 arrival at the end of a ii-V-I in Ab major.

  • Ebmaj7Abmaj7

    Here Abmaj7 is IVmaj7: a step away from the home chord rather than a final cadence.

  • CmAbmaj7BbCm

    In C minor, Abmaj7 colors the bVI degree before the phrase returns to minor.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with 465544, a barre at the 4th fret. The barre shape x-11-10-8-8-8, at the 8th fret, moves the chord up the neck and sits well between other barre chords. x-11-13-12-13-11 gives you another position higher up.

On ukulele, the open shape 0043 is the easiest place to start. 5746 gives a higher version.

On piano, play A flat-C-E flat-G. Move A flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, C-E flat-G-A flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

A flat is the root, C the major third, E flat the fifth and G the major seventh, eleven semitones above the root.

  • Root position: A flat-C-E flat-G, with A flat lowest.
  • First inversion: C-E flat-G-A flat, written Abmaj7/C if C is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: E flat-G-A flat-C, written Abmaj7/Eb if E flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Third inversion: G-A flat-C-E flat, written Abmaj7/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Abmaj7 differ from Ab7?

Keep the major triad and lower G to G flat. That makes Ab7, the dominant-seventh version; the changed seventh is the difference to hear. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Ab7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Abmaj7

    Ab - C - Eb - G
    C4

    Ab major 7

  • Ab7

    Ab - C - Eb - Gb
    C4

    Ab dominant 7

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