Ab7 Guitar Chord
Ab7 is a four-note dominant seventh chord built from Ab, C, Eb, Gb. Adding a minor seventh to the major triad creates tension that most naturally resolves to Db major, making it the classic V7 chord in the key of Db.
4 ways to play Ab7
Notes
Intervals
Ab (Root), C (Major 3rd), Eb (Perfect 5th), Gb (Minor 7th)
Found in keys
Notes in the Ab Dominant 7th Chord
The Ab Dominant 7th chord is built from 4 notes: Ab, C, Eb, Gb. It is a dominant 7th chord — built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh (10 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 Dominant 7th
Ab7 is built on the Ab major chord, which appears diatonically in these keys:
Common Chord Progressions with Ab7
Ab Dominant 7th appears in many common progressions. Here are the most-used patterns when Ab7 is the tonic chord:
Use our chords in a key tool to find all the chords that naturally pair with Ab7 in any key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Ab Dominant 7th chord?
The Ab Dominant 7th chord is made up of Ab, C, Eb, Gb. These 4 notes form a four-note chord structure.
What key is the Ab Dominant 7th chord in?
Ab Dominant 7th 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 Ab7 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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