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A-flat Major Chord
The A-flat Major Chord is A-flat, C, and E-flat: black, white, black. The thumb and fifth finger rest on black keys, with the middle finger on C. It has the same keys as G-sharp major, and its sound is warm and full, a little softer than the white-key major chords.
How to play the A-flat Major Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the A-flat Major Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The A-flat Major Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the A♭ major chord are stacked in thirds with A♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| A-flat Major Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♭ C E♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭ |
The A-flat Major Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (C) becomes the bottom note, and the root (A♭) jumps up to the top.
| A-flat Major Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C E♭ A♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭6 or A♭/C |
The A-flat Major Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (E♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (C) goes to the top.
| A-flat Major Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E♭ A♭ C |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭6/4 or A♭/E♭ |
A-flat Major Chord theory and function
A major chord is the most settled sound in tonal music. What it does depends on the key around it: it can be home, it can lead away from home, or it can pull back toward it.
The A♭ major chord is the tonic (I) in A♭ major, the dominant (V) in D♭ major, and the subdominant (IV) in E♭ major. In minor keys, it is the mediant (III) in F minor, the submediant (VI) in C minor, and the subtonic (VII) in B♭ minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as G♯ major, and the spelling follows the key. The G♯ major chord is the dominant (V) in C♯ minor.
Three chords, I, IV, and V, account for a great deal of the hymns, folk songs, and early classical pieces a student will meet. In A♭ major that is A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – A♭. Try listening for the job the chord is doing: after the dominant it sounds like arriving, and after the tonic it sounds like stepping away.
Other chords built on A-flat
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