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A♭ minor 6th chord on ukulele (A♭m6)
Also called or written A♭m6, A♭min6, A♭min maj6 or A♭ Minor Major 6
A♭ minor 6th is built from A♭, C♭, E♭ and F. The 1st fret grip demands a wide stretch between the index and pinky, making it a challenge for small hands.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6
- Root positionA♭–C♭–E♭–FA♭m68-8-7-8
- First inversionC♭–E♭–F–A♭A♭m6/C♭10-11-11-11
- Second inversionE♭–F–A♭–C♭A♭m6/E♭1-3-1-2
- Third inversionF–A♭–C♭–E♭A♭m6/F4-5-4-6
How do you play an A♭ minor 6th chord on ukulele?
A♭ minor 6th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 2: index finger on the G string at fret 1, pinky finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 1 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 2 | F (6) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 3 on the C string while the other fingers hold frets 1 and 2 cleanly.
A♭min6/F inversion
A♭ minor 6th is played at the 4th fret as 4 5 4 6: index finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, middle 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) | 4 | 1 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (6) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
7th fret
A♭ minor 6th is played at the 7th fret as 8 8 7 8: middle finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 8, index finger on the E string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 2 | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 1 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (6) |
A♭min6/C♭ inversion
A♭ minor 6th is played at the 10th fret as 10 11 11 11: index finger on the G string at fret 10, middle finger on the C string at fret 11, ring finger on the E string at fret 11 and pinky 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) | 11 | 2 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 3 | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ minor 6th adds the major sixth F to an A♭ minor triad, giving the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The sixth interval adds a bittersweet lift that the plain minor triad lacks.
What goes wrong with A♭ minor 6th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and deaden the A string.
- Pressing the index finger too hard, which can mute the E string.
- Striking the C string before the pinky is fully placed, causing a buzz.
When to use it
A♭ minor 6th works as a tonic in A♭ minor progressions, such as A♭m–D♭m–E♭7. It suits jazz, blues and ballads where a minor chord needs a brighter edge.
Changing to and from A♭ minor 6th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives A minor 6th.
- From A♭ minor, lift the pinky and add the ring finger on the A string at fret 2.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret position has A♭ in the bass for a root-position sound. The A♭min6/B inversion at frets 4-5-4-6 puts C♭ in the bass, softening the chord for passing moments.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ minor 6th written?
A♭ minor 6th is written A♭m6, min maj6 or A♭min6. The ASCII root is Ab, so it is often typed Abm6. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does A♭ minor 6th sound brighter than A♭ minor?
The added major sixth F creates a major-second clash with the fifth E♭, which adds sparkle. This interval is absent in the plain minor triad.
Can A♭ minor 6th be used as a dominant chord?
No, A♭ minor 6th is a tonic or subdominant color, not a dominant. Its minor third prevents it from resolving like a dominant seventh.