What chord could I use over this?

[dwest2419]

What chord could I use over this phrase?


E-----------------------
B-----------------------
G--------10-13-15-13-12
D--10-13----------------
A------------------------
E------------------------

I know that it's in the key of Ab and it has the notes C Eb F Ab Bb and G, but what is there among so many notes is what I dont seem to get here.

[Malcolm]

What chord could I use over this phrase?


E-----------------------
B-----------------------
G--------10-13-15-13-12
D--10-13----------------
A------------------------
E------------------------

I know that it's in the key of Ab and it has the notes C Eb F Ab Bb and G, but what is there among so many notes is what I dont seem to get here.

Look upon your riff as melody. How do you harmonize melody? You put chords under the melody that have some of the same notes found in the melody. Question now becomes what chords in the Ab key have some of the same notes that are in your riff.

Abmaj7 is made of the Ab-C-Eb-G notes and as all of them are in your riff, Abmaj7 will harmonize that riff very well.

Ab scale is Ab, Bd, C, Db, Eb, F, G the R-3-5-7 is the classic every other scale degree of that scale - and that makes an Abmaj7 chord. So the Abmaj7 is a good choice. For harmonization you only need one like note per measure. You have four like notes with the Abmaj7. One gets you harmonization, two like notes are a little better, three would be great and four just add some gravy. If you like gravy pour it on.

Question now is what else would work under that riff? What other chords in the key of Ab could be used? http://piano.about.com/od/chordskeys...ig_flats_4.htm

How about Cm? Or Bbm7? What else......
You tell us. This may come in handy. http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm
I found this to be of value. http://www.guitar-chords.org.uk/chords-key-a-flat.html