The short version
- A♭6 is A flat sixth, also written G♯6. Its notes are A♭, C, E♭ and F (formula 1 – 3 – 5 – 6).
- Easiest way to play it: a no-barre shape at the 4th fret, frets 4 x 6 5 6 x from low E to high E (x = don’t play).
- It sounds sweet, vintage, a bit 1950s. Use it as a softer, jazzier I chord, especially at the very end of a song.
- A♭6 turns up in 6 keys: D♭ major (as the V6), A♭ major (as the I6), E♭ major (as the IV6), B♭ minor (as the VII6) and F minor (as the III6), and more in the table below.
- Try it in: A♭6 – Fm7 – B♭m7 – E♭7, a 1950s turnaround wearing a cardigan.
How to play A♭6 on guitar, step by step
Start with the shape marked “Start here” above: the movable shape, root on the 6th string (4th fret).
- Put your index finger on fret 4 of the 6th (low E) string.
- Put your middle finger on fret 5 of the 3rd (G) string.
- Put your ring finger on fret 6 of the 4th (D) string.
- Put your little finger on fret 6 of the 2nd (B) string.
- Don’t play the A and high E strings: skip them, or touch them lightly with a spare finger so they can’t ring.
- Strum from the 6th (low E) string down, then press Strum on this page to check it sounds the same.
Once that’s comfy, try the other shape. Shape 2 is the barre chord, root on the 5th string (11th fret): x 11 13 13 13 13. Same chord, different spot on the neck, which helps when the next chord lives nearby.
Slide it around: this shape has no open strings and no barre, so the same fingering works on any fret. Move it up two frets and it becomes B♭6. One shape, twelve chords, zero extra homework.
Notes in the A♭6 chord
A♭6 is built from 4 notes. On guitar you’ll often play some of them twice, on different strings. That’s normal; the chord is still A♭6.
| Note | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | 1 root | Names the chord and anchors the bass. |
| C | 3 major third | Makes it major (happy). |
| E♭ | 5 perfect fifth | Adds weight; often the first note left out. |
| F | 6 major sixth | Sweet, vintage colour. |
What A♭6 sounds like, and when to use it
A major chord with the sixth added. Sweet and vintage: the ending chord of a 1960s pop song, a swing rhythm part, or a Beatles outro. Use it as a softer, jazzier I chord, especially at the very end of a song.
What key is A♭6 in?
A♭6 turns up in 6 keys: D♭ major (as the V6), A♭ major (as the I6), E♭ major (as the IV6), B♭ minor (as the VII6) and F minor (as the III6), and more in the table below. Tap a key to see the rest of its chords on the circle of fifths.
| Key | Numeral | Spelled as |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ major | V6 | A♭6 |
| A♭ major | I6 | A♭6 |
| E♭ major | IV6 | A♭6 |
| B♭ minor | VII6 | A♭6 |
| F minor | III6 | A♭6 |
| C minor | VI6 | A♭6 |
Chords that go with A♭6
Here’s a progression to try: A♭6 – Fm7 – B♭m7 – E♭7 (I6–vi7–ii7–V7), a 1950s turnaround wearing a cardigan.
More progressions → Transpose it →
Using A♭6 in a Suno prompt
Suno pays attention to chord names in a style prompt, at least some of the time. Put the progression in, keep the BPM, and let it fill in the rest. Then compare its guitar part with the shapes above.
Swing, 132 BPM, chord progression A♭6 – Fm7 – B♭m7 – E♭7, sixth-chord rhythm guitar, upright bass, brushed drums, crooner vocals, sweet and vintage
A♭6 chord FAQ
What notes are in the Ab6 chord?
A♭6 has 4 notes: A♭ (the root), C (the major third), E♭ (the perfect fifth) and F (the major sixth). The chord formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 6.
How do you play Ab6 on guitar?
The medium way is movable shape, root on the 6th string (4th fret). Strings from low E to high E: 4 x 6 5 6 x (x means don’t play that string). Put your index finger on fret 4 of the 6th (low E) string. Put your middle finger on fret 5 of the 3rd (G) string. Put your ring finger on fret 6 of the 4th (D) string. Put your little finger on fret 6 of the 2nd (B) string. Don’t play the A and high E strings: skip them, or touch them lightly with a spare finger so they can’t ring.
Is Ab6 the same as G#6?
Yes. A♭6 and G♯6 are the same chord with the same fingering. They are just spelled differently. You’ll see G♯6 in sharp keys and A♭6 in flat keys.
What key is Ab6 in?
A♭6 turns up in 6 keys: D♭ major (as the V6), A♭ major (as the I6), E♭ major (as the IV6), B♭ minor (as the VII6) and F minor (as the III6), and more in the table below. Major keys: D♭ major, A♭ major, E♭ major. Minor keys: B♭ minor, F minor, C minor.
What is the difference between Ab6 and Fm7?
Surprise: they share exactly the same notes (A♭, C, E♭ and F). A♭6 puts A flat in the bass so it sounds sweet and settled; Fm7 puts F in the bass so it sounds mellow and minor. Same ingredients, different plate.
What chords go well with Ab6?
Try Fm7, D♭6, B♭m7 and E♭7. The progression A♭6 – Fm7 – B♭m7 – E♭7 (I6–vi7–ii7–V7) is a 1950s turnaround wearing a cardigan. Press Play progression on this page to hear it.
Other major 6th chords
Got the chord? Now write the song
The free Paddy Prompt Studio turns a genre, mood and chord progression into a ready-to-paste Suno style prompt. No signup.
Open the Prompt Studio →