Ab/C on guitar: A flat with C in the bass
Ab/C is the A flat major chord (A♭, C, E♭) with its 3rd, C, as the lowest note: the 1st inversion of Ab. The notes are the same as in Ab; only the one at the bottom changes.
- Notes
- A♭CE♭
- Bass
- C 3rd of the chord
How to play Ab/C on guitar
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Shape 1 · fret 1 · barre
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Shape 2 · fret 3 · barre
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Shape 3 · fret 6
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Shape 4 · fret 8
Where Ab/C shows up
With the 3rd in the bass, the bass line can move by step. The classic case: Db → Ab/C → Bbm, with the bass walking down D♭, C, B♭.
Other positions of Ab
Frequently asked questions
What does Ab/C mean?
Ab/C reads "Ab over C": you play Ab and the lowest note is C. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between Ab/C and Ab?
The notes are the same (A♭, C, E♭); only the lowest one changes. With C in the bass, Ab is in 1st inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.
How do you play Ab/C on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them C is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).