[MusicTlk] What's the official name of this chord?

[Christopher Gilland]

So, was just over here playing around on my keyboard a bit and for some 
reason, I was inspired to play the opening rif to Stairway to Heaven by 
Led Zeppelin, which is interesting as I absolutely vehemently can not 
*stand!* their stuff!


Anyway, I know the first chord is an A miner first inversion, A on the 
bottom, then in the right hand would be middle C, E above that, then A 
on top.


But then the next chord is the one I'm unsure about. I know exactly what 
it is note wise and how to play it. So, for those who don't know, take 
that A miner chord, so left thumb on the A below middle C, right hand 
thumb on middle C, right index on the E a 3rd above middle C, then right 
pinky on the A directly above middle C.


Then the next chord which is causing me issues, all you do is take your 
left hand thumb from that A and move to the left hand index on A flat, 
or rather, G sharp, call it what you will. So it's basically still that 
A miner in the first inversion, but instead of being over the A root in 
the base, you drop it down a half step to G sharp/A flat. I'm just gonna 
say A flat, as we're moving lower, flattening that A.


Please know, don't tell me things like you flattened the augmented 
dominant 5th over a 3rd major  tonic 11th flattened by a root 3rd add 9. 
LOL! Not that that made a heck of any sense. LOL! My point is, I don't 
know theory very well at all. I know extreme basic, and believe me, I 
can play generally speaking like a son of a sailer, but as for why 
certain chords work, or do certain things, forget it! You'll lose me 
very quickly.


I know we could say an A Miner over a G# base, but does this chord have 
an actual name, like something or another mager 7th, or something 
diminished or whatever suspended, etc? I almost was going to say having 
that G sharp in there makes me think it's some variant off an E mager 
chord, but then adding that A and C in there makes me wonder.


Chris.