i-♭VI-♭VII-i (Andalusian Rock)
i · ♭VI · ♭VII · i
Aeolian rock pattern; metal anthem flavor.
Key of Ab Minor
The Key of A♭ Minor
The chords in the key of A♭ minor are A♭m, B♭dim, C♭, D♭m, E♭m, F♭ and G♭.
Seven flats — a theoretical key.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (B♭ · E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · C♭ · F♭), 5 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of A♭ minor
Each degree of the A♭ minor scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | TonicTonicHome — rests | A♭mG♯ · B · D♯spelled A♭m in Ab minor · the chord page is G♯ Minor | ||
| ii° | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | B♭dimB♭ · D♭ · F♭ | ||
| III | TonicMediantHome — rests | C♭B · D♯ · F♯spelled C♭ in Ab minor · the chord page is B Major | ||
| iv | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | D♭mC♯ · E · G♯spelled D♭m in Ab minor · the chord page is C♯ Minor | ||
| v | DominantDominantPulls back to I | E♭mE♭ · G♭ · B♭ | ||
| VI | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | F♭E · G♯ · Bspelled F♭ in Ab minor · the chord page is E Major | ||
| VII | DominantSubtonicPulls back to I | G♭F♯ · A♯ · C♯spelled G♭ in Ab minor · the chord page is F♯ Major |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in A♭ minor
Ab minor demands an Fb, which is enough to stop most readers cold. It sounds exactly like G# minor, and that is the spelling publishers print. It lives on the circle as the relative minor of Cb major, and turns up almost nowhere else.
Scale
The A♭ minor scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian).
Key signature
The A♭ minor key signature
B♭ · E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · C♭ · F♭
A♭ minor is written with 7 flats. Every B, E, A, D, G, C and F in the music is played flat unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative major, C♭ major, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in A♭ minor
The most-used progressions, already transposed into A♭ minor. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
ii°-V-i (Minor ii-V-i)
iiø · V · i
The minor-key version of ii-V-I.
i-♭VII-♭VI-V (Andalusian)
i · ♭VII · ♭VI · V
Flamenco / Phrygian descent; minor with major V.
i-iv-V (Minor Three Chord)
i · iv · V
Minor three-chord with major V.
i-♭VI-♭VII (Aeolian Loop)
i · ♭VI · ♭VII
Aeolian rock loop.
FAQ
Questions about the key of A♭ minor
- What chords are in the key of Ab minor?
- The key of Ab minor contains seven diatonic chords: Abm (i), Bbdim (ii°), Cb (III), Dbm (iv), Ebm (v), Fb (VI), Gb (VII). Most songs in Ab minor lean on Abm, Dbm and Ebm — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative major of Ab minor?
- Cb major is the relative major of Ab minor. Both keys share the same key signature (7 flats) and exactly the same seven notes — Cb major simply treats Cb as home instead of Ab, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in Ab minor to play on guitar?
- Fb is the one open shape in Ab minor — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on A♭ minor
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.