The A♭ Minor Major 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of A♭, C♭, E♭, and G. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major seventh.
Construction
A♭ Minor Major 7th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th = A♭ · C♭ · E♭ · G
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | Root | 1 |
| C♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| E♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| G | Major 7th | 7 |
A♭ Minor Major 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G |
| 1st Inversion | C♭ – E♭ – G – A♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | E♭ – G – A♭ – C♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | G – A♭ – C♭ – E♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the A♭ Minor Major 7th is the tonic (i) chord of Ab Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, Cb Major — 7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭).
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of A♭ Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of the A♭ minor scale:
A♭ Minor Major 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the A♭ Minor Major 7th chord on piano?
The A♭ Minor Major 7th chord contains the notes A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Ab Minor Major 7th chord?
AbmMaj7 contains: Ab, Cb, Eb, G. Minor triad with major seventh.
How does AbmMaj7 differ from Abm7?
AbmMaj7 has G (major seventh), Abm7 has Gb (minor seventh).
How is AbmMaj7 used in music?
Harmonic minor i chord. Jazz, film noir.
What songs use Minor Major 7th?
James Bond, My Funny Valentine.
Why does it sound tense?
Minor third (Cb) and major seventh (G) create dissonance.
How does AbmMaj7 differ from Abmaj7?
AbmMaj7 has minor third (Cb). Abmaj7 has major third (C).