Ab dominant 7th chord
- Ablab
- Cdo
- Ebmib
- Gbsolb
Ab7 chord notes
Ab dominant 7th adds a minor seventh to the major chord, ten semitones above the root. The added note pulls toward the chord a fifth below, which is why Ab7 so often leads into the next chord.
| Note | Interval from the root | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Ablab | Root1 | 0 |
| Cdo | Major third3 | 4 |
| Ebmib | Perfect fifth5 | 7 |
| Gbsolb | Minor seventhb7 | 10 |
Ab7 chord inversions
An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Ab7's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.
Root position
Ab, C, Eb, Gb
- Right hand
- 1-2-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-2-1
First inversion
C, Eb, Gb, Ab
- Right hand
- 1-2-4-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-2-1
Second inversion
Eb, Gb, Ab, C
- Right hand
- 1-2-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-2-1
Third inversion
Gb, Ab, C, Eb
- Right hand
- 1-2-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-4-2-1
Keys that use Ab7
In these major keys Ab7 is one of the key's own chords. The numeral beside each key is its place in that key, as chord charts write it.
- D-flat majorV7
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What notes are in the Ab7 chord?
Ab dominant 7th (Ab7) is Ab, C, Eb, Gb. In solfège that's lab, do, mib, solb.
Which fingers play Ab7?
In root position, the right hand plays 1-2-3-5 and the left hand 5-3-2-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.
Where does Ab7 want to go next?
Most often to the chord a fifth below its root, the home chord of the key where Ab7 is V7. Play Ab7 and then that chord, and you'll hear the pull settle.