The A♭ 13sus4 chord is a six-note chord made up of A♭, D♭, E♭, G♭, B♭, and F. It is built from a root, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and major thirteenth.
Construction
A♭ 13sus4 = Root + Perfect 4th + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd + Major 6th = A♭ · D♭ · E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · F
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | Root | 1 |
| D♭ | Perfect 4th | 11 |
| E♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| G♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
| B♭ | Major 2nd | 9 |
| F | Major 6th | 13 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the A♭ 13sus4 is the tonic (I) chord of Ab Major, whose key signature has 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭).
B♭E♭A♭D♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of A♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the A♭ major scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – F aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
A♭ 13sus4 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the A♭ 13sus4 chord on piano?
The A♭ 13sus4 chord contains the notes A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – F. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Ab 13sus4 chord?
The Ab 13sus4 chord (Ab13sus4) contains 6 notes: Ab, Db, Eb, Gb, Bb, F. Formula: R-P4-P5-m7-M9-M13.
How is Ab13sus4 used in music?
Ab13sus4 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for Ab13sus4?
Ab13sus4 uses scale degrees 1-4-5-b7-9-13, giving it its distinctive sound.