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A♭6 chord on guitar

A♭6 (A♭ major sixth) is A♭, C, E♭ and F. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written 4x656x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 6th string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th fret. Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

A♭6

A♭ major sixth · A♭ C E♭ F · 1 3 5 6

  • 4th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    4fr1324A♭A♭CF

    4x656x

  • 11th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    11fr13333A♭E♭A♭CF

    x-11-13-13-13-13

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are A♭, the root.

How to play A♭6

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 6th string · 4th fret

    4x656x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 6th string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 5th string · 11th fret

    x-11-13-13-13-13
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 11th fret.
    • Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 4th to 1st strings at the 13th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the A♭6 chord

A♭6 is A♭, C, E♭ and F, and it sounds sweet and old-fashioned, the last chord of many swing songs. From A♭, count 4 half steps up to C, 3 more to E♭ and 2 more to F. Its formula is 1 3 5 6. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with A♭ lowest. See its inversions and keys on the A♭6 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after A♭6

Fm7131111A♭6 and Fm7 are the same four notes over a different bass note, so they swap freely.D♭x46664A♭6 to D♭ is I6 to IV, the sweet sound of swing and doo-wop.E♭7x68686A♭6 to E♭7 is I6 to V7, which pulls straight back to A♭6.

More guitar chords

Other chords on A♭

A♭G♯mA♭7A♭maj7G♯m7A♭sus2A♭sus4A♭add9A♭9G♯dimG♯m7♭5G♯dim7A♭aug

Major sixth chords on other notes

C6D♭6D6E♭6E6F6F♯6G6A6B♭6B6

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play A♭6 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written 4x656x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 6th string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th fret. Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

What notes are in the A♭6 chord?

A♭6 is A♭, C, E♭ and F. In the shape written 4x656x, the 6th to 2nd strings play A♭, A♭, C and F.

Is A♭6 a barre chord?

It doesn't have to be: 4x656x needs no barre. The barre shape (x-11-13-13-13-13) plays it higher up the neck and moves to any root.

How many ways can you play A♭6 on guitar?

This page shows two: 4x656x (4th fret) and x-11-13-13-13-13 (11th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with A♭6?

Yes. “Make a beat in A♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A♭ major on A♭ E♭ Fm D♭, the key where A♭6 is the I6 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in A♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A♭ major on A♭ E♭ Fm D♭, the key where A♭6 is the I6 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in A♭ majorAll guitar chords

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