A-flat major is A-flat, C and E-flat. Its formula is 1–3–5, with C as the major third above A-flat.
Two chord tones use black keys, but the third C is natural. Do not lower C merely because the root name contains a flat. The accidental belongs to its written note unless another notation instruction says otherwise. From A-flat, C is four semitones higher and E-flat is seven. A-flat major is not A major with only its root lowered: moving the entire A–C♯–E shape down a semitone gives A♭–C–E♭.
Read each bass note before selecting a position. The root-position example starts with A♭; first inversion starts with C; second inversion starts with E♭. The chord tones stay the same. These are independently chosen reference registers, not an ascending exercise. Switching a position must update the selected note order, diagram, sound and current-print snapshot together. Hand numbers, when available, apply only to the root example.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | A♭ | A♭4–C5–E♭5 | A♭4 |
| First inversion | A♭/C | C4–E♭4–A♭4 | C4 |
| Second inversion | A♭/E♭ | E♭4–A♭4–C5 | E♭4 |
These are separate one-hand starting examples for the root-position voicing. Change to an inversion and the finger numbers are intentionally withheld.
Separate right-hand example for the displayed root-position voicing A♭4–C5–E♭5. The source supplies these chord-tone and hand-number pairings, not this octave placement. This is a starting example, not a universal rule; no fingering is assigned to the inversions.
Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom / University of Puget Sound
Supports: Triad construction, major/minor intervals.
Scope limit: General rule; exact PianoGrid registers, diagrams, exercises and explanations are original applications.
Checked 2026-09-11 · PG-TRIADSOpen Music Theory
Supports: Chord quality, chord members, inversion and lead-sheet conventions.
Scope limit: Not a source for our hand-specific fingerings or recordings.
Checked 2026-09-11 · PG-OMTOpen Music Theory
Supports: Written note letters and octave numbering.
Scope limit: Cb4 = MIDI 59 is a derived application of the notation rule, not a quotation of a PianoGrid example.
Checked 2026-09-11 · PG-ASPNSkoove
Supports: Root-position A♭–C–E♭; right hand 1–3–5 and left hand 5–3–1.
Scope limit: The root-position hand numbers are shown by the source. It does not specify PianoGrid’s A♭4–C5–E♭5 register. We do not adopt song lists, mood labels or inversion fingerings.
Checked 2026-09-11 · PG-SKOOVE-A-FLAT-MAJORCommon names: Ab, A-flat major, Abmaj.
Intervals from the root: perfect unison, major third, perfect fifth.
Compare A♭4–C5–E♭5 with A4–C♯5–E5. All three sounding pitches move up one semitone to make A major; simply changing A-flat to A would not give the same result.
G-sharp major is enharmonically related but spelled G♯–B♯–D♯. This page keeps A♭–C–E♭ because it answers the A-flat query, not a separate G-sharp spelling lesson.
A♭–C–E♭ and C–E♭–G have two shared tones, C and E-flat. Shared tones can make a comparison easier to follow without making the chord names interchangeable.
Use C4–E♭4–A♭4, then C4–E♭4–G4. The first is A♭/C; the second is Cm. Only the highest written note changes in this example. No transition fingering has been assigned.
Name the three chord tones before looking back at the answer. Then name the bass of the first inversion. These are written self-checks, not additional scored modes.
No. Ab or A♭ normally names A-flat major. A-flat minor needs a minor marker such as Abm.
C. The other two triad tones are A-flat and E-flat.
An A-flat major chord with C in the bass. It is the first inversion.
No. The printable reference shows note names, bass notes and keyboard positions. Hand-specific root examples are explained on the page.
Not all of them. They share C and E-flat, but A-flat major uses A-flat where C minor uses G.
Select the three pitch classes that make A flat major, then check your answer.
This keyboard checks an unordered pitch-class set. Order, octave, fingering and live piano performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: A♭–C–E♭ · Formula: 1, 3, 5
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.