A♭7 (A flat seventh) is built from 4 notes: A♭, C, E♭, G♭.
- A♭root
- Cmajor third
- E♭perfect fifth
- G♭minor seventh
Formula: 1, 3, 5, b7
How to play A♭7 on guitar
4 6 4 5 4 4x 11 13 11 13 11Read the diagrams with the low E string on the left. × means do not play that string, ○ means play it open.
Easier way: there is no open A♭7 shape, so it is usually played with one of the movable shapes above. With a capo you can use a shape you already know: capo on fret 1 and play the G7 shape, or capo on fret 4 and play the E7 shape.
How to play A♭7 on piano
Play A♭, C, E♭, G♭ together. With your right hand, use fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb on A♭). Your left hand can play A♭ an octave lower for a fuller sound.
Where A♭7 is used
A♭7 is the five chord (V7) in the keys of D♭ major and C♯ minor. Its C and G♭ pull toward the notes of the D♭ chord, which is why A♭7 so often comes right before D♭ or D♭m.
To hear the difference the seventh makes, play A♭ and then A♭7. The extra G♭ adds tension that wants to resolve.
Related chords
Change this chord into another key with the Chord Transposer, or look up any other chord or scale in the Chord and Scale Finder.