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Ab6 Piano Chord

    Piano Diagram of Ab6 in Root Position

    Ab6 Chord - Root Position

    An Ab6 chord is a four-note chord consisting of the notes Ab, C, Eb, and F. It is a major chord with an added sixth. It belongs to the chord family of “added tone chords” (aka “add chord”). Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of the music theory behind this chord.

     

    Structure of Ab6

    Notes
    Ab, C, Eb, F

    Intervals
    R, 3, 5, 6

     

    Finger Position

    Left Hand
    5, 3, 2, 1

    5, 4, 2, 1

    Right Hand
    1, 2, 4, 5

    1, 2, 3, 4

     

    Ab6 Chord Inversions

     

    The Ab6 chord has a total of 3 inversions:

    Root Position: Ab C Eb F
    1st Inversion: C Eb F Ab
    2nd Inversion: Eb F Ab C
    3rd Inversion: F Ab C Eb

     Piano Keyboard Diagrams

    Music Theory and Harmony of Ab6

    Building the Ab6 Chord: Different Approaches

    Starting from the Ab Major Scale

    To create a 6th chord, you can use the Major scale as a reference by combining a Root, a 3rd, a 5th, and a 6th.

     

    Ab Major Diatonic Scale up to octave

    Ab Major Scale

     

    Ab Major Diatonic Scale up to 13th - Keyless Notation

    Keyless notation of the Ab Major scale.

     

    Apply the formula R, 3, 5, 6 to build a 6th chord:

    1. Select the Root note, which is Ab.
    2. Pick the 3rd note, which is C, and add it to the chord.
    3. Add the 5th note, which is Eb, and include it as well.
    4. Finally, add the 6th which is F

     

    by Combining Intervals

    To build a 6th chord, one approach is to combine specific intervals, namely a major 3rd, a minor 3rd, and a major 2nd (a whole-tone).

    3 + m3 + 2 = 6th chords

    For instance, when building an Ab6 chord, you can observe that

    • Ab-C forms a major 3rd interval,
    • C-Eb creates a minor 3rd interval, and
    • Eb-F makes up a whole-tone interval.

    By stacking these intervals together, you can form an Ab6 chord.

     

    6th Chords Equivalencies

    If we take the third inversion of a 6th chord (which means we move the notes around so that the 6th note becomes the Root note), we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to a min7 chord.

    So, if we take the Ab6 chord (which has the notes Ab, C, Eb, and F) and move the notes around so that F becomes the Root note, we end up with a new chord that is equivalent to an F min7 chord (which has the notes F, Ab, C, and Eb).

    3rd inversion of Ab6 = F min7

     

    How to Use Ab6 in a Chord Progression

     

    Since 6th are based on major triads with an extra sixth, they can substitute the major chords built on the scale of the root. This means that we can use the Ab6 chord in those positions on the scale where the harmonization results in a major chord.

    This table showcases the harmonized major and natural minor scales where an Ab Major chord can be found. In all positions where an Ab Maj7 chord is present, the Ab6 chord can be used as a variation.

    on Major Scales

    Major Scales I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Ab Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 Eb7 F min7 Gm7b5
    Eb Eb Maj7 F min7 G min7 Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb7 C min7 Dm7b5
    • Tonic chord in Ab Major
    • Subdominant chord in Eb Major

    on Natural minor Scales

    Minor Scales i ii III iv v VI VII
    F F min7 Gm7b5 Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 Eb7
    C C min7 Dm7b5 Eb Maj7 F min7 G min7 Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb7
    • Mediant chord in F minor
    • Submediant chord in C minor

     

    Ab6 in Ab Major

    The 6th interval is a consonant interval, which means it doesn’t create any tension that needs to be resolved. It’s stable and often used as a substitute for the tonic chord, which is usually the main chord in a musical piece.

    The A6th chord can be used instead of an Ab major (or Ab major 7th chord), which is the first chord in the harmonized Ab major scale.

    In a major key, the I chord (built on the first degree of the major scale) serves as the tonic chord, providing the harmonic center of the chord progression.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 Eb7 F min7 Gm7b5

     

    Ab6 Chord Progressions as I degree

    Replacing a standard major chord with a 6th chord can enhance the richness and complexity of your music. Here’s a chord progression that demonstrates how the Ab6 chord can function as a substitute for the tonic (I degree) in a chord progression:

     

    II V I
    ii V I
    Bb min7 Eb7 Ab6

     

    I IV V
    I IV V
    Ab6 Db Maj7 Eb7

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Ab6 Eb7 F min7 Db Maj7

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Ab6 Db Maj7 F min7 Eb7

     

    Ab6 in Eb Major

    The Ab6 chord can also be used as the fourth degree of the Eb major scale as a substitute for the Ab Maj7. When applied to the I-IV-V progression, this chord on the fourth degree acts as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

    I ii iii IV V vi vii
    Eb Maj7 F min7 G min7 Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb7 C min7 Dm7b5

     

    Ab6 as IV degree – Chord Progressions

    Try playing these chord progressions to get an idea of how Ab6 functions as a substitute for the subdominant (IV degree) in a chord progression.

     

    I IV V
    I IV V
    Eb Maj7 Ab6 Bb7

     

    I V vi IV
    I V vi IV
    Eb Maj7 Bb7 C min7 Ab6

     

    I IV vi V
    I IV vi V
    Eb Maj7 Ab6 C min7 Bb7

     

    Ab6 in F minor

    Similarly, in F minor, the Ab6 chord can be used as a substitute for the Ab Maj7 chord on the third degree.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    F min7 Gm7b5 Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb min7 C min7 Db Maj7 Eb7

     

    Ab6 as III degree – Chord Progressions

    These chord progressions show the Ab6 chord as a substitute for the mediant (III degree) chord.

     

    i III
    i III
    F min7 Ab6

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    F min7 Ab6 Eb7 Db Maj7

     

    Circle Progression
    i vi VII III VI ii V i
    F min7 Bb min7 Eb7 Ab6 Db Maj7 G dim7 C7 F min7

     

    Ab6 in C minor

    In the key of C, you can also substitute an Ab6 chord for an Ab Maj7 chord when the Ab Maj7 chord appears on the sixth degree of the C minor scale. This is another situation where the Ab6 chord can be used as a replacement.

    i ii III iv v VI VII
    C min7 Dm7b5 Eb Maj7 F min7 G min7 Ab Maj7 ⇒ Ab6 Bb7

     

    Ab6 as VI degree – Chord Progressions

    You may want to experiment with these chord progressions to understand how the Ab6 chord can be used instead of the Ab Maj7 chord when it acts as the submediant (VI degree) in a C minor scale.

     

    i VI VII
    i VI VII
    C min7 Ab6 Bb7

     

    i v VI VII
    i v VI VII
    C min7 G min7 Ab6 Bb7

     

    i III VII VI
    i III VII VI
    C min7 Eb Maj7 Bb7 Ab6

     

    Circle Progression
    i vi VII III VI ii V i
    C min7 F min7 Bb7 Eb Maj7 Ab6 Dm7b5 G7 C min7

     

    Alternative Names for Ab6 Chord

    • Lab 6
    • Ab 6th
    • Ab M6
    • Ab sixth
    • Ab add6
    • Ab Maj6
    • Ab major6
    • Ab major 6th
    • Ab major sixth
    • Ab major add 6th

     

     

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