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Ab Major Piano Chord

    Piano Diagram of Ab Maj in Root Position

    Ab Maj Chord - Root Position - Piano Diagram

    To get an A-flat Major chord, you combine the root (Ab), the 3rd (C), and the 5th note (Eb) from the Ab major diatonic scale. In other words, an A-flat Major chord is a major triad built upon the key of Ab. Keep reading to get a better grip on the music theory behind this fundamental chord.

     


    Structure of Ab Major

    Notes

    Ab, C, Eb

    Intervals

    R, 3, 5

     

    Fingers Position

     

    Left Hand

    4, 2, 1

    5, 3, 2

    Right Hand

    1, 2, 4

    1, 3, 5

     

    Ab Major Chord Inversions

     

    The A-flat Major chord has a total of 2 inversions:

    Root Position: Ab C Eb
    1st Inversion: C Eb Ab
    2nd Inversion: Eb Ab C

     Piano Keyboard Diagrams

     


    Music Theory and Harmony of Ab Major

     

    What are Major Chords?

    Major chords are one of the two main types of chords in music, the other being minor chords. The primary distinction between the two lies in the 3rd note of the chord – major chords use a major 3rd, while minor chords use a minor 3rd. Due to the major third interval, major chords generally evoke a “happy” or “bright” quality, creating a sense of stability and resolution.

     


    Building the Ab Major Chord: Different Approaches

     

    Starting from the Ab Major Scale

    To build a major chord, you can use the major scale as a reference. You will need to combine a Root, a major 3rd, and a 5th interval.

    For instance, to build the A-flat Major chord, you can start with the Ab Major scale.

     

    Ab Major Diatonic Scale up to octave

    Ab Major Scale

     

    Ab Major Diatonic Scale up to octave Keyless Notation

    Ab Major Scale – Keyless Notation

     

    To create an A-flat Major chord, apply the formula R, 3, 5 in the following manner:

    1. Begin with the root note, which is Ab.
    2. Select the major 3rd interval, which is C, and add it to the chord.
    3. Finally, add the 5th interval, which is Eb.

    By following this simple formula, you can create a major chord from any major scale.

     


    by Combining Intervals

    One method to create a major chord is by combining specific intervals – a major 3rd, and a minor 3rd. To illustrate, let’s use the A-flat Major chord as an example.

    3 + m3 = Major Chords

    By examining the intervals between the notes, we can see that Ab-C forms a major 3rd interval, and C-Eb creates a minor 3rd interval. These two intervals can be stacked together to create the A-flat Major chord.

     


    How to Use Ab Maj in a Chord Progression

     

    The following tables display the harmonization of major and their relative natural minor scales for keys that contain an A-flat Major chord in different positions (degrees of the scale).

    on Major Scales

    Major Scales I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Ab Ab Maj Bb min C min Db Maj Eb Maj F min G dim
    Eb Eb Maj F min G min Ab Maj Bb Maj C min D dim
    Db Db Maj Eb min F min Gb Maj Ab Maj Bb min C dim
    • Tonic chord in Ab Major
    • Subdominant chord in Eb Major
    • Dominant chord in Db Major

     

    on Natural minor Scales

    Minor Scales i ii III iv v VI VII
    F F min G dim Ab Maj Bb min C min Db Maj Eb Maj
    C C min D dim Eb Maj F min G min Ab Maj Bb Maj
    Bb Bb min C dim Db Maj Eb min F min Gb Maj Ab Maj
    • Mediant chord in F minor
    • Submediant chord in C minor
    • Leading tone chord in Bb minor

     


    Ab Major Chord Function in Major and Minor Keys

    Understanding Scale Degrees

    When creating chords from a scale, each note in the scale is assigned a degree, which reflects its position in the scale. In the diatonic major scale, there are seven degrees, and each degree has a unique role in the overall harmony of the scale.

    1. The first degree of the scale is called the Tonic, and it serves as the foundation for the scale. It provides a stable tonal center and is often referred to as the “home base” of the music.
    2. The second degree of the scale is called the Supertonic. It’s typically used as a passing note between the tonic and other scale degrees, and it adds a sense of movement to the melody or harmony.
    3. The third degree of the scale is called the Mediant. It’s located halfway between the tonic and dominant notes and helps to establish whether the scale is major or minor.
    4. The fourth degree of the scale is called the Subdominant. It’s often used as a complementary harmony to the dominant and adds a sense of tension and resolution to the music.
    5. The fifth degree of the scale is called the Dominant. It generates tension and a sense of expectation, and it’s typically resolved by returning to the tonic.
    6. The sixth degree of the scale is called the Submediant. It’s often utilized as a transition between the dominant and tonic, and it provides a sense of stability and restfulness to the music.
    7. The seventh degree of the scale is called the Leading tone. It’s located one half step below the tonic and produces a strong sense of tension and a desire to resolve to the tonic. It’s often used to create a sense of resolution and finality in the melody or harmony.

     


    Ab Maj in Ab Major

    The A-flat Major chord is the first chord in the harmonized Ab major scale. In a major key, the I chord serves as the tonic chord, providing the harmonic center of the chord progression.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Ab Maj Bb min C min Db Maj Eb Maj F min G dim

     

    Ab Major Chord Progressions as I degree

    Play these chord progressions to get an idea of how Ab Major functions as the tonic (I degree).

    ii V I
    ii V I
    Bb min Eb Maj Ab Maj
    I IV V
    I IV V
    Ab Maj Db Maj Eb Maj

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Ab Maj Eb Maj F min Db Maj

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Ab Maj Db Maj F min Eb Maj

     


    Ab Maj in Eb Major

    The A-flat Major chord can also be found on the fourth degree of the Eb major scale. In the I-IV-V progression, the chord on the fourth degree serves as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Eb Maj F min G min Ab Maj Bb Maj C min D dim

     

    Ab Major Chord Progressions as IV degree

    Practice playing these chord progressions to grasp the role of Ab Major as the subdominant (IV degree).

    I IV V
    I IV V
    Eb Maj Ab Maj Bb Maj

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Eb Maj Bb Maj C min Ab Maj

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Eb Maj Ab Maj C min Bb Maj

     


    Ab Maj in Db Major

    The A-flat Major chord is a significant chord in the Db Major scale as it can be found on the fifth degree (V). When in this position, it serves a dominant function, meaning it creates tension and a sense of resolution toward the tonic chord (I).

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Db Maj Eb min F min Gb Maj Ab Maj Bb min C dim

     

    Ab Major as V degree – Chord Progressions
    ii V I
    ii V I
    Eb min Ab Maj Db Maj
    I IV V
    I IV V
    Db Maj Gb Maj Ab Maj

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Db Maj Ab Maj Bb min Gb Maj

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Db Maj Gb Maj Bb min Ab Maj

     

    I IV ii V iii vi ii V
    I IV ii V iii vi ii V
    Db Maj Gb Maj Eb min Ab Maj F min Bb min Eb min Ab Maj

     


    Ab Maj in F Minor

    Likewise, if we consider the F natural minor scale, we can locate the A-flat Major chord as the third degree.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    F min G dim Ab Maj Bb min C min Db Maj Eb Maj

     

    Ab Major Chord Progressions as III degree

    These chord progressions can help you comprehend how Ab Major serves as the mediant (III degree).

    i III
    i III
    F min Ab Maj

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    F min Ab Maj Eb Maj Db Maj

     

    i III iv v
    i III iv v
    F min Ab Maj Bb min C min

     

    i III ii v
    i III ii v
    F min Ab Maj G dim C min

     

    I iii vi V
    i III VI iv
    F min Ab Maj Db Maj Bb min

     

    Circle Progression
    i iv VII III VI ii V i
    F min Bb min Eb Maj Ab Maj Db Maj G dim C Maj F min

    (This chord progression is commonly used in many musical genres. It’s called a circle progression because if you continue through the sequence, you will eventually return to the starting point, forming a “circle” of keys.)

     


    Ab Maj in C Minor

    Another instance where you can come across an A-flat Major chord is while playing in the key of C minor. In fact, the A-flat Major chord can be found on the sixth degree of the C minor key.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    C min D dim Eb Maj F min G min Ab Maj Bb Maj

     

    Ab Major Chord Progressions as VI degree

    Try playing these chord progressions to get a sense of how Ab Major sounds as the submediant (VI degree).

    i VI VII
    i VI VII
    C min Ab Maj Bb Maj

     

    i v VI VII
    i v VI VII
    C min G min Ab Maj Bb Maj

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    C min Eb Maj Bb Maj Ab Maj

     

    Circle Progression
    i iv VII IIi VI ii V i
    C min F min Bb Maj Eb Maj Ab Maj Db dim G Maj C min

     


    Ab Maj in Bb Minor

    In the Bb minor scale, the A-flat Major chord can be found on the VII degree. In this position, it serves as the leading tone chord, which creates a sense of tension and resolution towards the tonic chord (Bb minor).

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    Bb min C dim Db Maj Eb min F min Gb Maj Ab Maj
    Ab Major as VII degree – Chord Progressions

    To hear how the A-flat Major chord functions as the leading tone (VII degree) in a chord progression in the Bb minor scale, you can play the following chord progressions:

    i VI VII
    i V VII
    Bb min F min Ab Maj

     

    i v VI VII
    i v VI VII
    Bb min F min Gb Maj Ab Maj

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    Bb min Db Maj Ab Maj Gb Maj

     

    Circle Progression
    i iv VII III VI ii V i
    Bb min Eb min Ab Maj Db Maj Gb Maj C dim F Maj Bb min

     


    Alternative Names for Ab Major

    • Ab M
    • Lab +
    • Lab M
    • Abmag
    • AbMaj
    • Abmaj
    • Ab Maj
    • Ab Magg
    • Ab major
    • Ab Major
    • Lab Magg

     

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