What notes are in the Ab/3 chord?

Ab/3 is made of C, Eb and Ab — the 3, 5 and 1 degrees of a major first inversion chord built on Ab.

What keys use the Ab/3 chord?

Every note of Ab/3 belongs to 8 keys: Eb Major (IV), Ab Major (I), Db Major (V), C# Major (V), C Minor (VI), F Minor (III), Bb Minor (VII), A# Minor (VII). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.

How do you play Ab/3 on guitar and piano?

This page shows Ab/3 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.

Is Ab/3 the same as G#/3?

Yes. Ab/3 and G#/3 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Ab/3 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Chord · Ab Major (1st Inversion)

A♭/3 Chord

A♭/3 is C, Eb and Ab — major triad with the third in the bass.

Hear it

A♭/3 on every instrument

The same 3 notes, 1 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.

Piano1 voicing

What A♭/3 is made of

Ab Major (1st Inversion) (Ab major (1st inversion)) is built from the notes C, Eb, Ab, with the interval pattern 3, 5, 1. A common major (1st inversion) chord across many styles.

Stack 3, 5 and 1 on a root of A♭ and you get C, Eb and Ab. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a major first inversion chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why E/3 sounds like a transposed A♭/3.

Major (1st Inversion): Major triad with the third in the bass.

Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. That is why this chord is spelled with E♭ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.

Keys that contain A♭/3

All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 8 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.

Major keys

Minor keys

Other chords on A♭

Same root, different colour.

A♭Ab Major A♭augAb Augmented A♭sus2Ab Suspended 2nd A♭sus4Ab Suspended 4th A♭5Ab Power Chord A♭6Ab Major 6th A♭6/9Ab 6/9 A♭7Ab Dominant 7th

The same major first inversion shape, moved

The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.

E/3E Major (1st Inversion)F/3F Major (1st Inversion)A/3A Major (1st Inversion)B/3B Major (1st Inversion)F♯/3F# Major (1st Inversion)D♭/3Db Major (1st Inversion)E♭/3Eb Major (1st Inversion)B♭/3Bb Major (1st Inversion)

Questions people ask about Ab/3

What notes are in the Ab/3 chord?: Ab/3 is made of C, Eb and Ab — the 3, 5 and 1 degrees of a major first inversion chord built on Ab.
What keys use the Ab/3 chord?: Every note of Ab/3 belongs to 8 keys: Eb Major (IV), Ab Major (I), Db Major (V), C# Major (V), C Minor (VI), F Minor (III), Bb Minor (VII), A# Minor (VII). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
How do you play Ab/3 on guitar and piano?: This page shows Ab/3 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Is Ab/3 the same as G#/3?: Yes. Ab/3 and G#/3 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Ab/3 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Learn the theory behind it

Why A♭/3 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.

Chord Inversions and Slash Chords — Same Notes, Different AttitudeSame notes, different bass note — what the slash in the name is actually doing.5 min read Voice Leading — Hold What You Can, Move Only What You MustInversions exist so your fingers move less between chords. This is the technique behind them.6 min read Functional Harmony: Three Roles, One EngineAn inverted chord still has a job in the key. Here is how to hear it.6 min read