Abm Ukulele Chord
Abm on ukulele is 4-3-4-2: put your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the C string, your ring finger on the 4th fret of the g string and your little finger on the 4th fret of the E string. It is a four-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast. You will also see it written as G#m, G sharp minor.
- Notes: Ab, B and Eb
- Frets: 4 3 4 2
- Tuning: g C E A
Abm ukulele chord details
- Type
- Minor triad
- Also known as
- G#m, or Ab minor
- Formula
- 1 b3 5
- Intervals
- Ab (root), B (minor 3rd), Eb (perfect 5th)
- Notes
- Ab, B and Eb
- Frets
- 4 3 4 2
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Abm chord
Here is the Abm chord step by step:
- Put your ring finger on the 4th fret of the g string.
- Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the C string.
- Put your little finger on the 4th fret of the E string.
- Put your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string.
- Strum all four strings.
It is a bit of a stretch, so go slow and let your hand learn the shape. These quick tips for tricky chords help. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play Abm?
Yes: play it as x-3-4-2. Put your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the C string, your ring finger on the 4th fret of the E string and skip the g string. It uses three fingers instead of four. You give up the g string, but every note of the chord is still there, so it works in any song. Use it while the main shape is still settling, then go back to the full voicing for the bigger sound.
What notes are in the Abm chord?
The Abm chord is built from three notes: Ab, B and Eb (the root, minor 3rd and perfect 5th). On the ukulele the B is doubled, so you get a nice full sound. That flattened third is what gives a minor chord its softer, more wistful feel next to a bright major. Curious which chords sit together in a song? See which chords share a key.
Ukulele songs that use the Abm chord
The Abm chord belongs to E Major (the iii), B Major (the vi), G♭ Major (the ii), C♯ Minor (the v), G♯ Minor (the i) and E♭ Minor (the iv). Each key page shows the rest of that family, the progressions that use it and songs to play.
Want to go further?
Once Abm feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Ab7, Abmaj7, Ab and Absus4. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. Then put it into a strumming pattern. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.