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New Released in April 2026

A Flat Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes

Ab triad inversions on guitar: the three notes Ab, C and Eb on three neighbouring strings, in three positions on each of four string sets. Twelve small shapes that cover the whole neck.

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×××
Ab C Eb Ab

Ab on each string set

Each row uses three neighbouring strings and climbs the neck from the lowest shape to the highest. Mute or skip the other strings.

G-B-e strings

×××
Ab C Eb Ab

1st inversion

8fr×××
Ab Eb Ab C

2nd inversion

11fr×××
Ab Ab C Eb

Root position

D-G-B strings

×××
Ab Eb Ab C

2nd inversion

4fr×××
Ab Ab C Eb

Root position

8fr×××
Ab C Eb Ab

1st inversion

A-D-G strings

×××
Ab C Eb Ab

1st inversion

5fr×××
Ab Eb Ab C

2nd inversion

8fr×××
Ab Ab C Eb

Root position

E-A-D strings

×××
Ab Ab C Eb

Root position

6fr×××
Ab C Eb Ab

1st inversion

10fr×××
Ab Eb Ab C

2nd inversion

Same chord, different bottom note

An inversion just reorders Ab, C and Eb. Bottom note Ab: root position. Bottom note C: 1st inversion. Bottom note Eb: 2nd inversion.

Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.

All Ab triad frets in one table

String setRoot position1st inversion2nd inversion
G-B-e stringsx x x 13 13 11x x x 5 4 4x x x 8 9 8
D-G-B stringsx x 6 5 4 xx x 10 8 9 xx x 1 1 1 x
A-D-G stringsx 11 10 8 x xx 3 1 1 x xx 6 6 5 x x
E-A-D strings4 3 1 x x x8 6 6 x x x11 11 10 x x x

Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.

Practise Ab triads in four steps

  1. Start with the G-B-e strings only: three shapes, one minute each.
  2. Climb the neck through the three shapes and come back down without stopping.
  3. Stay near fret 8 and find Ab on two different string sets.
  4. Last, switch between Ab and another triad in the same area of the neck.

Small daily sessions work best: shapes stick by repetition.

From one shape to the next

On the G-B-e strings, the shapes go up the neck in this order: 1st inversion (fret 5) → 2nd inversion (fret 9) → root position (fret 13). The top notes along the way are Ab, C, Eb.

One area of the neck, near fret 8, already holds four Ab shapes: G-B-e strings 8-9-8; D-G-B strings 6-5-4; A-D-G strings 6-6-5; E-A-D strings 8-6-6.

ChordRunner game screen with a chord to play on guitar

Train chord changes on your guitar

ChordRunner listens to your guitar through the microphone: a chord name appears, you play it in any shape, and the game hears if the notes are right. A MIDI keyboard works too.

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Guitar chord chart · Chord inversions · Guitar chord game

Common questions

What are the inversions of Ab on guitar?

Root position (Ab at the bottom), 1st inversion (C at the bottom) and 2nd inversion (Eb at the bottom). On the top three strings: 1st inversion 5-4-4; 2nd inversion 8-9-8; Root position 13-13-11.

Why learn triad inversions on guitar?

They let you play Ab in any area of the neck with three fingers, so chord changes stay close and the top note can follow a melody.

What does a Ab triad sound like?

Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.

Can I practise Ab with a game that listens to my guitar?

Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.

Your instrument is the controller.

ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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