A♭ Dominant 13th
Listen plays the chord. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.
Introduction
The A♭ Dominant 13th chord is a seven-note chord made up of A♭, C, E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭, and F. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, perfect eleventh, and major thirteenth.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Ab Dominant 13th has 4 flats.
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.
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of A♭ Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the A♭ major scale:
Theory: Intervals
The A♭ Dominant 13th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11-M13 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11-M13 show the distance between each note in the chord.
A♭ Dominant 13th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Ab Dominant 13th chord?
How is Ab13 used in music?
What is the scale degree formula for Ab13?
Practice Tips
- Start by placing your thumb on Ab and spacing remaining fingers across the chord.
- Practice Ab13 slowly with separate hands before combining.
- Listen carefully to the tension created by the altered tones in this chord.
- Try voicing Ab13 in different octaves to find the most comfortable position.
- Resolve Ab13 to a nearby chord to hear its function in context.