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A♭ Major 6

Also known as G♯ Major 6
Same keys, different spelling.
Open G♯ Major 6 →Same chord, spelled with sharpsWhat are enharmonics? →Why one chord has two names
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Listen plays the chord. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.

A♭6
A♭ – C – E♭ – F
Formula:Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 6th
Intervals:1-3-5-6
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-6

Introduction

Ab Major 6 piano chord, root position — Ab, C, Eb, F
The Ab Major 6 chord in root position on a piano keyboard, notes Ab, C, Eb, F.

The A♭ Major 6 chord is a four-note chord made up of A♭, C, E♭, and F.

Notes

Notes:A♭ – C – E♭ – F

A♭ Major 6 Inversions

Ab Major 6 piano chord, 1st inversion — C, Eb, F, Ab
The Ab Major 6 chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
Ab Major 6 piano chord, 2nd inversion — Eb, F, Ab, C
The Ab Major 6 chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
Ab Major 6 piano chord, 3rd inversion — F, Ab, C, Eb
The Ab Major 6 chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionA♭ – C – E♭ – F
1st InversionC – E♭ – F – A♭
2nd InversionE♭ – F – A♭ – C
3rd InversionA♭ – C – E♭ – F

Key Signature

The key of Ab Major 6 has 4 flats.

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 diatonic triads built on each degree of the A♭ major scale:

C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — A♭ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IA♭ MajorMajor
2iiB♭ MinorMinor
3iiiC MinorMinor
4IVD♭ MajorMajor
5VE♭ MajorMajor
6viF MinorMinor
7vii°G DiminishedDiminished

Theory: Intervals

Formula: Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 6th
Intervals: 1-3-5-6

The A♭ Major 6 is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 6th describes the scale degrees used. The intervals 1-3-5-6 show the distance between each note in the chord.

A♭ Major 6 — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the Ab Major 6 chord?
Ab6 contains: Ab, C, Eb, F. Major triad with major sixth.
How does Ab6 differ from Abmaj7?
Ab6 has F (sixth). Abmaj7 has G (seventh).
How does Ab6 differ from Fm7?
Same notes, different root.
How is Ab6 used?
Vintage jazz, R&B, gospel. Ab is a popular vocal key.
What songs use Major 6th?
Swing, R&B, gospel.
Can I substitute Ab6 for Ab Major?
Yes.

Practice Tips

  • Play Ab Major then add F.
  • Ab6 and Fm7 same notes.
  • Popular in R&B and gospel.
  • Vintage jazz tonic.
  • Compare with Abmaj7.
  • Warm, sweet colour.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.