Ab6 Guitar Chord
Ab6 is a four-note major sixth chord built from Ab, C, Eb, F. Adding the major sixth to the major triad gives it a bright, nostalgic warmth associated with jazz standards, bossa nova, and vintage pop. It often substitutes for the tonic major chord as a more colourful resolution point.
4 ways to play Ab6
Notes
Intervals
Ab (Root), C (Major 3rd), Eb (Perfect 5th), F (Major 6th)
Found in keys
Notes in the Ab Major 6th Chord
The Ab Major 6th chord is built from 4 notes: Ab, C, Eb, F. It is a major 6th chord — built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and major sixth (9 semitones above the root). On guitar, these notes are voiced across multiple strings simultaneously to create the full chord sound. Depending on the voicing, some notes may be doubled in different octaves to fill out the sound.
Keys That Contain Ab Major 6th
Ab6 is built on the Ab major chord, which appears diatonically in these keys:
Common Chord Progressions with Ab6
Ab Major 6th appears in many common progressions. Here are the most-used patterns when Ab6 is the tonic chord:
Use our chords in a key tool to find all the chords that naturally pair with Ab6 in any key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Ab Major 6th chord?
The Ab Major 6th chord is made up of Ab, C, Eb, F. These 4 notes form a four-note chord structure.
What key is the Ab Major 6th chord in?
Ab Major 6th naturally appears in the keys of Db Major, Ab Major, Eb Major. It can also appear in other contexts as a borrowed chord or secondary chord.
How do I play the Ab6 chord on guitar?
Place your fingers on the guitar fretboard according to the diagram above. The numbered dots show finger placement (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky), "O" means play the string open, and "X" means mute that string.
Other Ab Chords
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