Ab6 Piano Chord

Ab6 is the A flat sixth chord. It has four notes: A flat, C, E flat and F. The A flat and E flat are black keys, under the thumb and middle finger, and the C and F between them are white.

1A♭2C3E♭5FC3C4

A flat at the bottom under the thumb, then C, E flat and F. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1.

How to play Ab6 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the A♭ below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): A♭
  3. Index finger (2): C
  4. Middle finger (3): E♭
  5. Little finger (5): F
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just A♭ on its own as a bass note.

Thumb and middle finger sit on the black keys, A flat and E flat, while the index and little finger take the white C and F. Playing slightly inside the keyboard keeps the thumb comfortable on its black key.

Inversions of Ab6

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Ab6; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionC E♭ F A♭
Ab6 piano chord diagram, first inversion, C E♭ F A♭
Lighter, with the third in the bass tipping the chord toward D flat or F minor. A stepping stone voicing.
Second inversionE♭ F A♭ C
Ab6 piano chord diagram, second inversion, E♭ F A♭ C
Open, with a gentle haze where E flat and F touch at the bottom. It sounds like an A flat chord in motion rather than one at rest.
Third inversionF A♭ C E♭
Ab6 piano chord diagram, third inversion, F A♭ C E♭
The pivot voicing. With F underneath, Ab6 and F minor seventh are one sound, which is exactly how soul progressions drift between the two.

If it sounds wrong

The top note landed on G
One white key too far gives Abmaj7 instead of the sixth. The note you want is F, a whole step above the E flat.
It sounds like F minor
Ab6 and Fm7 share all four notes. If F becomes the lowest note the ear hears F minor. Keep A flat at the bottom, or put a low A flat in the left hand.
The thumb slips off A flat
A thumb on a black key needs the hand further into the keyboard than feels natural at first. Move in until the thumb rests near the front edge of the A flat with weight behind it.

What makes it an Ab6

A♭ · C · E♭ · F 1 3 5 6

Ab6 is an A flat major triad, A flat, C and E flat, with an F added: the sixth, a whole step above the fifth. Nothing is taken away, so the chord still carries A flat major's darkness and gains the sixth's vintage warmth.

The same four notes read from F spell Fm7, the relative minor seventh. One shape, two names, chosen by the bass. Soul and gospel, which live in A flat, use both faces of this chord side by side.

Ab6 vs Abmaj7

Both add one white key to the A flat triad. Ab6 adds F, a whole step over the E flat; Abmaj7 adds G, a half step under the A flat above. F closes the chord; G opens it.

Hold A flat, C and E flat, and alternate the top note between F and G. The F version ends a gospel phrase; the G version hangs in the air. One key, two entirely different rooms.

Questions about Ab6

Is Ab6 the same as G#6?

Yes, one chord spelled two ways. A flat is the spelling that turns up in real keys, so it is the one used here.

Is Ab6 the same as Fm7?

Same notes: A flat, C, E flat and F. A flat in the bass makes it Ab6; F in the bass makes it Fm7.

What fingers do you use for Ab6?

Right hand: thumb on A flat, index on C, middle on E flat, little finger on F, which is 1, 2, 3, 5. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between Ab6 and Ab7?

Ab6 adds F, a colour note that sits still. Ab7 adds G flat, a flat seventh that pushes toward D flat. The sixth is an ending; the seventh is a doorway.

When would I use Ab6?

As the warm tonic chord in soul, gospel and jazz in A flat, and under melodies that rest on F.

Chords to learn next

Other Ab chords