A♭maj7 chord on piano
A♭maj7 (A flat major 7th) is a major 7th chord built on A♭. It has 4 notes, A♭, C, E♭ and G, and its formula is 1 3 5 7.
Notes and intervals of A♭maj7
From the root upwards, A♭maj7 contains root (A♭), major 3rd (C), perfect 5th (E♭) and major 7th (G). Those intervals give the chord its colour: the formula 1 3 5 7 works the same way in every key, so once you know it for A♭ you can build the chord on any note.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | A♭ |
| 3 | major 3rd | C |
| 5 | perfect 5th | E♭ |
| 7 | major 7th | G |
How to play A♭maj7 on piano
Find A♭ and play A♭, C, E♭ and G together. With the right hand, a common fingering is 1-2-3-5. With the left hand, reverse it (5-3-2-1). Keep your wrist level and let the fingers curve, so all 4 keys go down at the same time.
Inversions of A♭maj7
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. A♭maj7 has 3 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (C E♭ G A♭), 2nd inversion (E♭ G A♭ C) and 3rd inversion (G A♭ C E♭). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use A♭maj7?
You find A♭maj7 as a diatonic chord in A flat major (Imaj7) and E flat major (IVmaj7). The most common case is A flat major, where it plays the role of Imaj7.
Scales to play over A♭maj7
To improvise over A♭maj7, start with A flat major scale. All of these scales contain every note of the chord: A flat major scale and A flat Lydian mode. Aim for the chord notes on strong beats and use the other notes to move between them.
About major 7th chords
A major triad plus a major seventh: 1 3 5 7. The seventh sits a semitone below the octave, which gives a soft, floating, slightly bittersweet colour. The major seventh chord is relaxed rather than tense: it does not need to resolve and can sit for a whole verse. For example Cmaj7: C E G B.
It lives on I and IV of a major key (Imaj7, IVmaj7), so it is the home chord of jazz, bossa nova, soul, neo-soul and soft pop. Classic moves: ii7 V7 Imaj7 in jazz, Imaj7 IVmaj7 for dreamy loops, and in minor keys ♭IIImaj7 and ♭VImaj7, the I and IV of the relative major.
Root position (1 3 5 7) is lush, but avoid doubling the root above the seventh: the two notes a semitone apart clash. A classic split: left hand root and fifth, right hand 3, 5, 7 or 3, 7, 9. Rootless shapes such as 3 5 7 9 are standard in jazz when a bass player covers the root.
Confusing maj7 with 7 is the classic error: the dominant 7 has a minor seventh and pulls to resolve, maj7 does not. Watch the symbols: maj7, M7, Δ7 and Δ all mean the same chord, but 7 alone does not. And a major 7 on the V chord clashes with the melody: in a major key, V takes a plain 7.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♭maj7 chord?
A♭maj7 (A flat major 7th) contains A♭, C, E♭ and G. In intervals: root (A♭), major 3rd (C), perfect 5th (E♭) and major 7th (G).
How do you play A♭maj7 on piano?
Play A♭, C, E♭ and G together with the right-hand fingering 1-2-3-5. You can also play it in 3 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with A♭maj7?
A flat major scale fits A♭maj7 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: A flat Lydian mode.
What key is A♭maj7 in?
A♭maj7 belongs to A flat major (Imaj7) and E flat major (IVmaj7). In A flat major it is the Imaj7 chord.
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