A♭ minor seventh (A♭m7) chord on piano

The A♭ minor seventh chord (A♭m7) is a minor seventh chord (a minor triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭. The same chord with a different spelling: G♯ minor seventh (G♯m7).

Root position: A♭3 – C♭4 – E♭4 – G♭4

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What the A♭m7 chord sounds like

A minor seventh chord is softer than a plain minor chord – the minor seventh fills out the sound. In jazz it is the ii of the ii–V–I, in pop and soul a common colour chord.

Notes of the A♭m7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A♭	root
3	C♭	minor third (3 semitones)
5	E♭	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	G♭	minor seventh (10 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

A♭3 – C♭4 – E♭4 – G♭4

1st inversion

C♭4 – E♭4 – G♭4 – A♭4

2nd inversion

E♭4 – G♭4 – A♭4 – C♭5

3rd inversion

G♭4 – A♭4 – C♭5 – E♭5

Which keys is it in?

The A♭m7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

E♭ minor: iv7 (subdominant)
G♭ major: ii7

Similar chords and substitutes

If A♭m7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Bmaj7 – relative major seventh: three shared notes
C♯7 – in a ii–V, this is the dominant that follows

Same notes

B6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

A♭m – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

A♭m9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭m7 chord?

A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭. The root is A♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.

How do I play the A♭m7 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the A♭m7 chord written?

The chord symbol is A♭m7 (also written Abm7), and its full name is A♭ minor seventh.