Explore chords · Ukulele
A♭ 6th chord on ukulele (A♭6)
Also called or written A♭6 or A♭
A♭ 6th contains A♭, C, E♭ and F. The 1st fret shape is a wide stretch, but a 5th fret inversion offers relief.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionA♭–C–E♭–FA♭68-8-8-8
- First inversionC–E♭–F–A♭A♭6/C10-12-11-11
- Second inversionE♭–F–A♭–CA♭6/E♭1-3-1-3
- Third inversionF–A♭–C–E♭A♭6/F5-5-4-6
How do you play an A♭ 6th chord on ukulele?
A♭ 6th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 3: index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 2 | F (6) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 3 on the A string while the index and middle hold fret 1, stretching the hand.
A♭6/F inversion
A♭ 6th is played at the 4th fret as 5 5 4 6: middle finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 2 | C (3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (6) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
8th fret
A♭ 6th is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (3) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | F (6) |
A♭6/C inversion
A♭ 6th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 11 11: index finger on the G string at fret 10, pinky finger on the C string at fret 12, middle finger on the E string at fret 11 and ring finger on the A string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (6) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 4 | C (3) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ 6th is built from the major triad A♭–C–E♭ plus the sixth, F. The sixth adds a warm, consonant colour to the major sound. Compare it with A♭ major, which stops at the fifth and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with A♭ 6th?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the C string, which deadens the C note.
- Pressing too hard with the index, which can pull the G string sharp.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the E string, muting the E♭.
When to use it
A♭ 6th functions as the tonic in A♭ major, fitting the I–IV–V–I progression A♭–D♭–E♭–A♭. It suits jazz, blues and pop ballads where a major triad needs extra warmth. Replace A♭ major with it at phrase endings.
Changing to and from A♭ 6th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives A 6th.
- From A♭ major, add the pinky on the A string at fret 3 and the ring on the C string at fret 3.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret shape has A♭ in the bass, giving a clear root position. The A♭6/C inversion at the 5th fret places C in the bass, which softens the chord and makes it easier to play. The A♭6/E♭ inversion at the 8th fret has E♭ in the bass, creating a brighter, more open sound.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ 6th written?
A♭ 6th is written as A♭6 or A♭. The root is A♭, and the ASCII spelling is Ab. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭ 6th and A♭ major 7th?
A♭ 6th adds the sixth, F, while A♭ major 7th adds the seventh, G. The sixth is more consonant and less tense than the major seventh.
Can A♭ 6th be used in a minor key?
Yes, A♭ 6th can appear in F natural minor as the III chord, but it is less common. It adds a major colour to the minor progression.
Why is the 5th fret inversion easier?
The 5th fret inversion uses frets closer together, so the hand does not need to stretch as much. It also has C in the bass, which is a softer sound.