Piano chord · Triads
A♭ major chord on piano
Right hand: A♭ (1), C (3), E♭ (5)
How to play A♭ on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Bright, stable and resolved — the foundation of most songs.
A♭ is the I chord in A♭ major, IV in E♭ major and V in D♭ major. In minor keys: III in F minor, V in C♯ minor, VI in C minor and VII in B♭ minor.
- Notes
- A♭CE♭
- Formula
- 135
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handA♭1 · thumbC3 · middleE♭5 · pinky
Left handA♭5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing A♭ on piano
A♭, C, E♭ — black, white, black. Thumb on the black A♭.
You’ll find A♭ in common progressions such as A♭–E♭–Fm–D♭ (the pop progression in A♭ major), A♭–D♭–E♭–D♭ (three-chord rock in A♭ major) and A♭–Fm–D♭–E♭ (the ’50s progression in A♭ major).
