Abmaj7 Piano Chord

Abmaj7 is the A flat major seventh chord. It has four notes: A flat, C, E flat and G. The root and the fifth are black keys; the third and the seventh are white.

1A♭2C3E♭5GC3C4

A♭ at the bottom, then C and E♭ and G. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. The black keys are A♭ and E♭.

How to play Abmaj7 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the A♭ below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): A♭
  3. Index finger (2): C
  4. Middle finger (3): E♭
  5. Little finger (5): G
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just A♭ on its own as a bass note.

This is the same alternating pattern as E flat major seventh, moved along the keyboard. If one is comfortable the other needs no new learning.

Inversions of Abmaj7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Abmaj7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionC E♭ G A♭
Abmaj7 piano chord diagram, first inversion, C E♭ G A♭
Lighter than root position and less final. A third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionE♭ G A♭ C
Abmaj7 piano chord diagram, second inversion, E♭ G A♭ C
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.
Third inversionG A♭ C E♭
Abmaj7 piano chord diagram, third inversion, G A♭ C E♭
The most restless of the four. The seventh is the note that wants to move, and putting it underneath the whole chord makes that pull impossible to miss.

If it sounds wrong

The top note is G flat
That gives Ab7, which pulls toward D flat. Abmaj7 needs G natural, the white key.
The thumb slips off
It is on a black key while two other fingers are on white ones. The hand has to sit at a middle depth for both to work.
The chord sounds muddy
The G and the A flat above it are a half step apart. Play the chord at or above middle C so that interval stays clear.

What makes it an Abmaj7

A♭ · C · E♭ · G 1 3 5 7

Abmaj7 is an A flat major triad, A flat C E flat, with a G added: the major seventh.

It is the I chord of A flat major and the IV of E flat. A flat is a piano and vocal key rather than a guitar one, which is why this chord is so common in soul and gospel.

Abmaj7 vs Ab

Abmaj7 is A flat major with a G on top. The triad is final; the seventh is soft and open.

In gospel and soul, where A flat is a favourite key, the seventh is usually the version played.

Questions about Abmaj7

Which notes are in an Abmaj7 chord on piano?

A flat, C, E flat and G. A flat and E flat are black keys; C and G are white.

What fingers do you use for Abmaj7?

Right hand: thumb on A flat, index on C, middle on E flat, little finger on G. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between Abmaj7 and Ab7?

The top note. Abmaj7 has G natural and sits still; Ab7 has G flat and pulls toward D flat.

Is Abmaj7 hard to play?

No. The alternating black and white keys ask the hand to sit at a middle depth, and nothing stretches.

Where is the Abmaj7 chord used?

As the I chord in A flat and the IV in E flat. Soul and gospel use it constantly.

Chords to learn next

Other Ab chords