A♭ major 6th chord on piano
A♭6 is a major 6th chord built on A♭. It uses the notes A♭ - C - E♭ - F and sounds sweet and nostalgic, heard often in swing and old pop. It is also written as G♯ major 6th.
- Notes
- A♭ C E♭ F
- Formula
- 1 - 3 - 5 - 6
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- A♭6
How to play A♭6 step by step
- Find A♭. A♭ is the middle black key in each group of three. The same key is also called G♯.
- Add C, 4 half steps above A♭.
- Add E♭, 7 half steps above A♭.
- Add F, 9 half steps above A♭.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
A♭6 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♭ major 6th chord?
The A♭ major 6th chord (A♭6) contains 4 notes: A♭, C, E♭, F. Its formula is 1 - 3 - 5 - 6.
How do you play A♭6 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on A♭ and play A♭, C, E♭, F together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is A♭ major 6th the same as G♯ major 6th?
Yes. A♭ major 6th and G♯ major 6th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.