Strum six strings down from the low E stringįor beginners or guitarists with smaller hands, comfortably mastering barre chords can be a challenge. Pinky finger: 6th fret of the D (4th) string Ring finger: 6th fret of the A (5th) string Middle finger: 5th fret of the G (3rd) string Index finger: 4th fret of the E (1st) string Index finger: 4th fret of the B (2nd) string Index finger: 4th fret of the low E (6th) string Finally, place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the third (G) string, and strum all six strings to hear the full version of the Ab chord.

Your pinky finger lands on the 6th fret of the string next to it (D). Then, stretch your ring finger over to the 6th fret of the fifth (A) string. To play the Ab chord, barre your index finger across the 4th fret. This barre chord starts on the 4th fret, giving it a higher sound than many chords that call for you to position your fingers on the (most commonly) first, second, and third frets. One of the most popular ways to play the Ab chord is as a barre chord. Fortunately, with a little practice, it’s a fairly fun chord to learn to play. Listening to the Ab chord, it conjures a cheerful brand of recklessness and fun. Now that you have a better grasp on the concept of flats and sharps, let’s hone in on the Ab chord and learn a few ways to play it.

Depending on the scale, the same exact note could be an Ab (a half-tone lower than A) or a G# (a half-tone higher than A). Since the Ab is a half-tone lower than the A note (a whole tone), it sits between the G note and the A note. These half-tones on the musical scale are either a half-tone lower than a full note (a flat) or a half-tone higher than one note up on the scale (a sharp). A Lesson in Flats and Sharpsįlats and sharps in a scale are really just a matter of perspective. Let’s learn a little more about this chord, some different ways to play it, and some songs where it makes an appearance. While that “flat” can be deceiving, the Ab chord also goes by another name: the G# (or G sharp) chord. That quality makes it a natural fit for building a soundscape within uptempo rock and pop songs. The Ab chord (sometimes written as A flat) has a bright, almost perky sound, despite its “flat” moniker.

Chords in a flat major