Chords in the key of Ab major
The notes of Ab major are Ab Bb C Db Eb F G. Each note makes one chord, so these are the seven chords that belong together. Its relative minor is F minor, which uses exactly the same chords.
The seven chords in Ab major
| Number | Chord | Feels like | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Ab | Home | The chord the key is named after. Songs usually start and end here, and it feels like coming home. |
| ii | Bbm | Setup | A soft minor chord that leads naturally into V. |
| iii | Cm | Soft | A gentle minor chord that sounds a lot like I. Used less often. |
| IV | Db | Lift | Moves away from home without much tension. A warm, open sound. |
| V | Eb | Tension | Builds tension that wants to fall back to I. The strongest pull in the key. |
| vi | Fm | Relative minor | The relative minor: the same notes, starting from here. Adds a sad or reflective mood. |
| vii° | Gdim | Tense | An unstable chord that pulls toward I. Rare in folk, rock and country. |
How to play them
Tap a chord to see it bigger.
Want to play Ab higher up the neck? See Ab in all five CAGED shapes.
Famous progressions in Ab
Each one is written as numbers first, then as the real chords in Ab major. Play each chord for one bar (four beats) unless you decide otherwise.
The three-chord song
I IV V
Ab Db Eb
The backbone of rock, country, folk and blues. Three chords are enough for hundreds of songs, so this is the first progression to learn.
Heard in: Twist and Shout, La Bamba, Wild Thing
The four-chord progression
I V vi IV
Ab Eb Fm Db
The most famous progression in pop. The same four chords have carried songs across every decade and style.
Heard in: Let It Be, No Woman, No Cry, Wagon Wheel, With or Without You
The four chords, starting from the minor
vi IV I V
Fm Db Ab Eb
The same four chords as above, started from vi. The song begins on the sad chord, so it feels moodier.
Heard in: Zombie, Despacito
The 50s progression
I vi IV V
Ab Fm Db Eb
The sound of doo-wop and early rock and roll. Sweet and a little nostalgic.
Heard in: Stand by Me, Earth Angel
The jazz turnaround
ii V I
Bbm Eb Ab
The building block of jazz: setup, tension, home. Once you can hear it, you will hear it in everything.
Heard in: Autumn Leaves (in its major sections)
Pachelbel's Canon
I V vi iii IV I IV V
Ab Eb Fm Cm
Db Ab Db Eb
Eight chords that glide down and back up. It has been borrowed by pop songs for centuries.
Heard in: Canon in D, Basket Case
The 12-bar blues
I7 I7 I7 I7 IV7 IV7 I7 I7 V7 IV7 I7 V7
Ab7 Ab7 Ab7 Ab7
Db7 Db7 Ab7 Ab7
Eb7 Db7 Ab7 Eb7
Twelve bars, three chords, all played as sevenths. Each chord is one bar. The pattern behind most blues and early rock and roll.
Heard in: Rock Around the Clock, Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog
Seventh chords used above
Other keys
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