Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
A flat major 7th chord (A♭maj7) — guitar chord chart
A♭maj7 is a major 7th chord built on A♭. Its notes are A♭, C, E♭, G. The major 7th, a half step under the root, gives a soft, dreamy shimmer heard in jazz, soul, bossa nova and lo-fi. It’s also written G♯maj7.
A♭maj7 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♭maj7
- Index (1) on the 6th string, fret 4 (A♭).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 5 (G).
- Little finger (4) on the 3rd string, fret 5 (C).
- Middle (2) on the 2nd string, fret 4 (E♭).
- Strum from the 6th string down; don’t play strings 5, 1.
- 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 1 and play the open Gmaj7 shape — it sounds as A♭maj7. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in A♭maj7
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | root |
| 3 | C | major 3rd |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th |
| 7 | G | major 7th |
Progressions with A♭maj7
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the A♭maj7 chord?
- A♭maj7 (A flat major 7th) has 4 notes: A♭, C, E♭, G.
- Is A♭maj7 hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Gmaj7 shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between A♭maj7 and A♭?
- A♭ is A♭ C E♭. The major 7th, a half step under the root, gives a soft, dreamy shimmer heard in jazz, soul, bossa nova and lo-fi.
- Is A♭maj7 the same as G♯maj7?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.