Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
A flat minor chord (A♭m) — guitar chord chart
A♭m is a minor chord built on A♭. Its notes are A♭, C♭, E♭. Lowering the 3rd by a half step gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic colour. It’s also written G♯m.
A♭m chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play A♭m
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 4, from the 6th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 5th string, fret 6 (E♭).
- Little finger (4) on the 4th string, fret 6 (A♭).
- Strum all six strings.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 4 and play the open Em shape — it sounds as A♭m. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in A♭m
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | root |
| ♭3 | C♭ | minor 3rd |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th |
Progressions with A♭m
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the A♭m chord?
- A♭m (A flat minor) has 3 notes: A♭, C♭, E♭.
- Is A♭m hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 4 you can use the open Em shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between A♭m and A♭?
- A♭ is A♭ C E♭. Lowering the 3rd by a half step gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic colour.
- Is A♭m the same as G♯m?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.