Abm6/9 Piano Chord

Piano Diagram of Abm6/9 in Root Position

The Abm6/9 chord is a minor chord based on the Ab key (Ab, Cb, Eb) but with additional major 6th (F) and major 9th (Bb) intervals. In this article, we will explore the music theory behind this chord in greater detail.

Structure of Abm6/9

Notes
Ab, Cb, Eb, F, Bb

Intervals
R, m3, 5, 6, 9

Abm6/9 Chord Inversions

The Abm6/9 chord has a total of 4 inversions:

Root Position:	Ab	Cb	Eb	F	Bb
1st Inversion:	Cb	Eb	F	Ab	Bb
2nd Inversion:	Eb	F	Ab	Bb	Cb
3rd Inversion:	F	Ab	Bb	Cb	Eb
4th Inversion:	Bb	Cb	Eb	F	Ab

Piano Keyboard Diagrams

Abm6/9 Chord Piano Chart

: Abm6/9 Chord First Inversion

: Abm6/9 Chord Second Inversion

: Abm6/9 Chord Third Inversion

: Abm6/9 Chord Fourth Inversion

Chord Inversion on Piano

Chord inversions are a fundamental concept in music theory that explains how chords are constructed and fit into progressions. However, when discussing chord inversions on a piano keyboard, it’s essential to note that the diagrams used to show the notes in an inversion may not always be practical for playing.

In actual practice, pianists use different voicings and fingerings for chords, spreading the notes across various octaves and positions on the keyboard. This means that the basic shape of a chord’s inversions as depicted in diagrams might not always be the most effective way to play the chord on a piano keyboard.

How to play an Abm6/9

To play the Abm6/9 chord, you can start by playing the root note Ab with your left hand. Then, using your right hand, play the minor 3rd Cb (equivalent to a natural B), the 6th F, and the 9th note Bb. This simplifies the Abm6/9 chord to include only the root note, minor 3rd, major 6th, and 9th notes.

Ab + Cb, F, Bb

Pianists often modify these chords for ease, excluding certain notes like the root or the 5th. Another approach is dividing the chord between hands, playing either full or partial chords in each hand. However, voicing chords on the piano is a nuanced topic that requires more explanation.

Keep in mind that these suggestions are general and may not suit every musical context.

Music Theory and Harmony of Abm6/9

Building the Abm6/9 Chord: Different Approaches

Starting from the Ab Major Scale

To build a minor 6/9 chord, you would typically include the root note, minor third, fifth, sixth, and ninth from a minor scale. However, when teaching this concept, it can be more effective to demonstrate its construction using a major scale. This is because a major scale better illustrates the relationship between intervals and their respective qualities.

So let’s take the Ab major scale:

Ab Major Scale

Ab Major Diatonic Scale up to 13th Keyless Notation

Ab Major Scale – Keyless Notation

Apply the formula R, m3, 5, 6, 9 to get an Abm6/9 chord:

Select the Root note, which is Ab.
Pick the 3rd note, which is C, then lower it down by a half step to get the minor 3rd Cb.
Add the 5th note, which is Eb, and include it as well.
Now, add the 6th which is F.
Lastly, include the 9th note of the Ab Major scale, which is a Bb.

by Combining Intervals

To build a minor 6/9 chord, one approach is to combine specific intervals, namely a minor 3rd, a major 3rd, a major 2nd (whole-tone), and a perfect 4th.

m3 + 3 + 2 + 4 = m6/9 Chords

In an Abm6/9 chord, you can see that:

Ab-Cb forms a minor 3rd,
Cb-Eb creates a major 3rd,
Eb-F makes a whole-tone interval,
and F-Bb is a perfect 4th.

Stacking these intervals together creates an Abm6/9 chord.

How to Use Abm6/9 in a Chord Progression

Abm6/9 chords can be used as a variation of minor chords. However, it’s important to understand that the major 6th and/or the 9th interval present in this chord may not always be a part of the scale being used.

on Natural minor Scales

Minor Scales	i	ii	III	iv	v	VI	VII
Ab	Ab min7 ⇒ Abm6/9	Bbm7b5	Cb Maj7	Db min7	Eb min7	Fb Maj7	Gb7
Eb	Eb min7	Fm7b5	Gb Maj7	Ab min7 ⇒ Abm6/9	Bb min7	Cb Maj7	Db7
Db = C#	C# min7	D#m7b5	E Maj7	F# min7	G# min7 ⇒ G#m6/9 = Abm6/9	A Maj7	B7

Non-diatonic Tonic chord in Ab minor
Subdominant chord in Eb minor
Non-diatonic Dominant chord in C# minor as G#m6/9

on Major Scales

Major Scales	I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii
Gb	Gb Maj7	Ab min7 ⇒ Abm6/9	Bb min7	Cb Maj7	Db7	Eb min7	Fm7b5
Fb = E	E Maj7	F# min7	G# min7 ⇒ G#m6/9 = Abm6/9	A Maj7	B7	C# min7	D#m7b5
Cb = B	B Maj7	C# min7	D# min7	E Maj7	F#7	G# min7 ⇒ G#m6/9 = Abm6/9	A#m7b5

Supertonic chord in Gb Major
Non-diatonic Mediant chord in E Major as G#m6/9
Non-diatonic Submediant chord in B Major as G#m6/9

Non-diatonic positions

In the case of the Ab minor 6/9th chord, the F does not exist in either the Ab natural minor scale or the B major scale. In Db minor and E Major, both, the 6th (F) and the 9th (Bb) are not present in the scales. This is why the Abm6/9 chord (and any other chords with non-scale tones) are called “non-diatonic.”

As a result, it is possible that the inclusion of this chord could cause dissonance within a melody or harmonic progression. So, just be careful when you use this chord in your music. Make sure it works well with the other chords and notes.

Abm6/9 in Ab minor (Non-Diatonic)

The Abm6/9 chord can be used as the tonic chord in the Ab natural minor scale, but it’s non-diatonic due to the presence of the major 6th interval (F), which creates tension and dissonance. While this dissonance can add interest to the chord, it may also make it challenging to use in certain musical contexts.

i	ii	III	iv	v	VI	VII
Ab min7 ⇒ Abm6/9	Bbm7b5	Cb Maj7	Db min7	Eb min7	Fb Maj7	Gb7

Abm6/9 Chord Progressions as i degree

Here are some examples of chord progressions where the Abm6/9 chord can serve as the tonic chord (i degree). I have provided a possible chord voicing just as a suggestion.

i VI VII III

i	VI	VII	III
Abm6/9 Ab (B, F, Bb)	Fb Maj7 Ab (B, Eb, Ab)	Gb7 Gb (Bb, Db, E, Gb)	Cb Maj7 B (Eb, Gb, Bb)

You can play the root note with your left hand and the remaining notes within the brackets with your right hand.

Chromatic modulation

i	i^Δ	i⁷	i⁶
Ab min Ab ( B, Eb, Ab)	Ab min(Maj7) Ab (B, Eb, G)	Ab min7 Ab (B, Eb, Gb)	Abm6/9 Ab (Bb, B, F)

i iv VI VII

i	iv	VI	VII
Ab min7 \| Abm6/9 Ab (B, Eb, Gb) \| Ab (Bb, B, F)	Db min7 Db (B, Db, E)	Fb Maj7 E (Ab, B, Eb)	Gb7 Gb (E, Bb, Db)

Abm6/9 in Eb minor

The Abm6/9 can also appear as a variation of the subdominant chord in the key of Eb minor.

i	ii	III	iv	v	VI	VII
Eb min7	Fm7b5	Gb Maj7	Ab min7 ⇒ Abm6/9	Bb min7	Cb Maj7	Db7

Abm6/9 Chord Progressions as iv degree

The following chord progressions feature an Abm6/9 chord as the subdominant (iv degree):

iv III VI VII

iv	III	VI	VII
Abm9 \| Abm6/9 Ab (Bb, B, Gb) \| Ab (Bb, B, F)	Gb Maj7 Gb (Bb, Db, F)	Cb Maj7 B (Bb, Eb, Gb)	Db7 Db (Bb, B, F)

You can play the root note with your left hand and the remaining notes within the brackets with your right hand.

i iv VI v

i	iv	VI	v
Eb min7	Abm6/9 \| Abm7	Cb Maj7	Bb min7

Abm6/9 in Db minor (Non-Diatonic)

Check G#m6/9 in C# minor

Abm6/9 in Gb Major

In the key of Gb major, the Abm6/9 chord can be used as a supertonic chord, which is a chord built on the second degree of the scale. This chord can add color and variety to a progression that already includes an Abm chord on the same degree.

I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii
Gb Maj7	Ab min7 ⇒ Abm6/9	Bb min7	Cb Maj7	Db7	Eb min7	Fm7b5

Abm6/9 Chord Progressions as ii degree

Try playing the following chord progressions to better understand how the Abm6/9 chord functions as the supertonic (ii) chord in the key of Gb major.

ii V I

ii	V	I
Abm6/9	Db7	Gb Maj7

I IV ii V iii vi ii V

I	IV	ii	V	iii	vi	ii	V
Gb Maj7	Cb Maj7	Abm6/9 \| Abm7	Db7	Bb min7	Eb min7	Ab min7	Db7

Abm6/9 in Fb Major (Non-Diatonic)

Check G#m6/9 in E Major

Abm6/9 in Cb Major (Non-Diatonic)

Check G#m6/9 in B Major

Alternative Names for Abm6/9 Chord

Ab -6/9
Lab -6/9
Ab m6/9
Ab m6/9th
Ab min 6/9
Ab m9(add6)
Ab min9 add 6
Ab minor 6th 9th
Ab minor sixth-ninth