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A-flat Minor 7th Chord
The A-flat Minor 7th Chord is A-flat, C-flat, E-flat, and G-flat. The C-flat is the white key B, so only the second note is white. It's usually written as G-sharp minor 7th, and the sound is soft and dark.
How to play the A-flat Minor 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the A-flat Minor 7th 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 Minor 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the A♭ minor 7th 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 Minor 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♭ C♭ E♭ G♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭m7 |
The A-flat Minor 7th 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 Minor 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C♭ E♭ G♭ A♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭m6/5 or A♭m7/C♭ |
The A-flat Minor 7th 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 Minor 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E♭ G♭ A♭ C♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭m4/3 or A♭m7/E♭ |
The A-flat Minor 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (G♭) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (E♭) goes to the top.
| A-flat Minor 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G♭ A♭ C♭ E♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭m4/2 or A♭m7/G♭ |
A-flat Minor 7th Chord theory and function
The minor 7th is a minor chord with the minor seventh added, and it is one of the mellowest sounds in the harmonic vocabulary. It carries far less tension than the dominant 7th, so it can sit for a long time without needing to resolve.
The A♭ minor 7th chord is the supertonic (ii7) in G♭ major. In minor keys, it is the subdominant (iv7) in E♭ minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as G♯ minor 7th, and the spelling follows the key. The G♯ minor 7th chord is the mediant (iii7) in E major and the submediant (vi7) in B major. In minor keys, it is the tonic (i7) in G♯ minor and the dominant (v7) in C♯ minor.
Try playing G♯m and then G♯m7 and listen to how the added note softens the chord.
Other chords built on A-flat
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