Abm guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - m - i - m · Alternating Folk (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)
The 1st string repeats the G# of the 6th. This pattern leaves it out. All 6 arpeggios
Alternating picking with steady pulse.
The notes of Abm are Ab, Cb and Eb. Ab is the root, Cb the minor third and Eb the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are A flat, C flat and E flat.
String by string, low to high, it plays Ab, Eb, Ab, Cb, Eb and Ab. The root, Ab, shows up three times in the main shape. The lowest and highest notes are both Ab, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.
For Abm, your index finger barres fret 4. Your hand covers three frets, from 4 to 6. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 4 and 11.
Change only string 3 in Abm and you have Ab. Dbm shares two positions with this shape. G#m is the same chord under another name.
Abm belongs to five keys. In B major it is the vi, in Gb major the ii and in E major the iii. The rest appear in the key list.
Ab 1Cb ♭3Eb 5
Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 4 (Ab)
String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator
Placement tip: Barre fret 4. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 6, 4th String (D) at fret 6.
Placement tip: Barre fret 11. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 13, 3rd String (G) at fret 13, 2nd String (B) at fret 12. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Barre fret 4. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 6 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 4 to 6 |
| Barre | fret 4, from the 6th to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 3 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | none |
At fret 4, only the barre sounds the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings.
Listen: Abm → Dbm · Db · B
Abm sits in the scale of 5 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Abm chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.
The primary bass note of the Abm chord is its root note: Ab. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 4.
When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.
The Abm chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 formula (Minor Triad). Its constituent pitches are Ab, Cb, Eb.
To prevent fret buzz on the Abm barre chord, roll your index finger slightly outward (about 15 degrees) to press with its harder bony edge. Position your finger directly behind the fret wire and apply gentle arm pull from your back rather than squeezing with thumb force.
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