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A♭ major (A♭) on guitar

The A♭ major scale consists of the notes A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G and has 4 flats. Below you can see every usable note on the neck up to fret 15.

A♭ majorMajor scale

♪ Click a note on the fretboard to hear its sound.

E
B
G
D
A
E
0123•45•67•89•101112••131415•
Root noteOther notes
Click a note to hear it · frets 0–15

Chords in A♭ major

Common progression: A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭ (I–V–vi–IV).

Quick overview

Root note
A♭
Mode
major
Key signature
4 flats
Pentatonic
A♭ B♭ C E♭ F
Relative key
F minor

Well-known songs in A♭ major

  • All of MeJohn Legend
  • Every Breath You TakeThe Police
  • Let It GoIdina Menzel
  • PerfectEd Sheeran
  • Somebody to LoveQueen
  • Viva la VidaColdplay

Key of the original recording; live versions or covers may differ.

CAGED positions

With the CAGED system you play A♭ in five positions across the whole neck. Each shape connects to the next.

  • G shapearound fret 1 · root on low E string, fret 4
  • E shapearound fret 4 · root on low E string, fret 4
  • D shapearound fret 6 · root on D string, fret 6
  • C shapearound fret 8 · root on A string, fret 11
  • A shapearound fret 11 · root on A string, fret 11

Learn A♭ major in 5 steps

  1. Step 1

    Find the root note A♭

    Find A♭ on the low E string (fret 4) and on the A string (fret 11). Play them alternately and say the name out loud. Every pattern below hangs off these two points.

  2. Step 2

    Play the main chords

    Learn the three most important chords: A♭ (I), D♭ (IV) and E♭ (V). Switch between them at a slow tempo until you can play through without stopping.

  3. Step 3

    Learn the pentatonic in box 1

    The major pentatonic (A♭ B♭ C E♭ F) is the first pattern to learn. Put your index finger around fret 1 and play two notes per string, from the low E to the high e and back.

  4. Step 4

    Extend to the full scale

    Add the two missing notes (D♭ and G) in the same position. Now you're playing all seven notes of As majeur: A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G.

  5. Step 5

    Improvise over a chord progression

    Record A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭ (or ask someone to play it) and solo over it using box 1. End your phrases on A♭ and listen to how that "coming home" sounds.

Playing A♭ major with a capo

Go to the capo guide

Solo tips for A♭ major

  1. Start with the major pentatonic scale (A♭ B♭ C E♭ F). The best-known "box" pattern starts on the root A♭ on the low E string, fret 4.
  2. End your phrases on the root A♭ for a resolved feeling, or on the third C and fifth E♭ for tension.
  3. Add the blue note C♭ as a passing note for a bluesy sound — don't linger on it too long.
  4. Over the E♭ chord (the V) deliberately play the notes of that chord to make the chord changes audible.

Frequently asked questions about A♭ major

Which notes are in As majeur?

As majeur (A♭) consists of the notes A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G. The key signature has 4 flats.

Which chords fit As majeur?

The diatonic chords in As majeur are A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, Gdim. You can freely combine them; they all sound good within the key.

What is the relative key of As majeur?

The relative key is F minor. It uses exactly the same notes and key signature, just with a different tonal centre.

Which pentatonic scale do you use in As majeur?

Use the major pentatonic scale: A♭, B♭, C, E♭, F. It avoids the "tricky" half-step intervals and almost always sounds good.

How do I find A♭ on the guitar neck?

You'll find the root A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 and on the A string at fret 11, among other places.