Chords in the key of Ab major on cavaquinho

The key of Ab major has seven diatonic chords: Ab, BbmBbmBbmBbm, CmCmCmCm, Db, Eb, FmFmFmFm and G°. As sevenths: Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7, Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7, Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7, Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7, Eb7Eb7Eb7Eb7, Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7 and Gm7b5. They come from the Ab major scale, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F and G, one on each note. On cavaquinho, the shapes below are the seventh chords of every degree, and the tonic one has Ab in the bass.

On the cavaquinho, four steel strings tuned D–G–B–D pack the chord into a small, bright space — every finger counts. Its four steel strings give a bright, sharp attack that cuts through the mix and drives the beat.

Seventh chords in Ab major on cavaquinho

See also

See every chord in the key of Ab major →

Updated October 20, 2026