A♭ Minor Chord (Abm, G#m) on Piano
The Abm chord (Ab minor) is built from 3 notes: Ab – Cb – Eb. It is also written as G#m.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Ab | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | root | 0 |
| Cb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| Eb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Ab – Cb – Eb | Ab in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Cb – Eb – Ab | Cb in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Eb – Ab – Cb | Eb in the bass |
How the minor chord is built
Every minor chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on Ab and applying that formula produces Ab, Cb, Eb. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Abm
Every note of Abm belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Ab
Minor chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Abm chord?
A Abm chord contains the notes Ab, Cb, Eb. Those are the 1, b3, 5 degrees measured from the root note Ab.
How do you play Abm on piano?
Place your thumb on Ab, then add Cb and Eb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Abm the same as G#m?
Yes. Abm and G#m are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.