Abmaj7 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.
Abmaj7 is built from Ab, C, Eb and G. Ab is the root, C the major third, Eb the fifth and G the major seventh. Said aloud, its notes are A flat, C, E flat and G.
String by string, low to high, it plays Ab, Eb, G, C, Eb and Ab. Ab rings twice across the six strings, and it is the root. The lowest and highest notes are both Ab, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.
The main Abmaj7 shape needs a barre at fret 4 across six strings. 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 4 in Abmaj7 and you have Ab. Inside Abmaj7 sits a complete Cm chord, made of C, Eb and G. Cm shares three positions with this shape.
You will find Abmaj7 in four different keys. In Ab major it is the I, in Eb major the IV and in C minor the VI. The rest appear in the key list.
Ab 1C 3Eb 5G 7
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 5, 3rd String (G) at fret 5.
Placement tip: Barre fret 11. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 13, 3rd String (G) at fret 12, 2nd String (B) at fret 13. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 4 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 5 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 5 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 4 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 4 to 6 |
| Barre | fret 4, from the 6th to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 4 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | none |
At fret 4, only the barre sounds the 6th, 2nd, and 1st strings.
Listen: Abmaj7 → Ab · Cm · Db
Abmaj7 sits in the scale of 4 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Abmaj7 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 Abmaj7 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 Abmaj7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 formula (Major Seventh). Its constituent pitches are Ab, C, Eb, G.
To prevent fret buzz on the Abmaj7 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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