The Ab Bar Chord
The Ab bar chord is another good way to play an Ab chord on guitar. Ab bar chords are usually played on the 4th fret (pictured left). Major chords sound bright and happy and form the bread and butter of most popular music.
The Ab bar chord is comprised of the following notes in the key of A major: A (root), C# (3rd) and E (5th).
Mahalo guitar expert Brandon Slavinski shows you how to rock out with the Ab bar chord.
Step 1: Find the Correct Finger Position
1. Bar the 4th fret with your 1st finger.
2. Place your 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Place your 4th finger on the 6th fret of the 4th (D) string.
4. Place your 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
Step 2: Strum the Chord on Your Guitar
Play every note in your chord starting from the 6th string to the 1st. Make sure that none of the strings are muted or buzz. Now move your pick back and forth across your guitar, strumming rhythmically.
Step 3: Practice Using the Chord
When you feel confident strumming the chord, find a song that uses the Ab chord. Any time that a song calls for the Ab chord you can use this bar chord instead. Practice the song of your choice until you can play it all the way through without stopping on the Ab bar chord.
Practice the Ab Chord in Basket Case by Green Day
References
Meet Our Experts
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Brandon Slavinski
Meet Brandon, one of Mahalo's guitar experts. Brandon has been a professional guitar instructor since 2005 teaching private guitar lessons to hundreds of students. He owns a production company called Red Letterbox Productions, and has produced and written for many artists including Drew Seeley, the singing voice of Troy in High School Musical. Brandon has an extensive knowledge of recording, engineering and writing music of all kinds. He is currently working on his solo material as a singer and guitarist.
Another Way to Bar an Ab Chord
Starting on the 11th fret
