major sixth chord
A♭, C, E♭ and F
- Root
- A♭
- Major third
- C
- Perfect fifth
- E♭
- Major sixth
- F
Formula
1 3 5 6 (4, 7, 9 half steps above A♭)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | A♭ | C | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
A♭6 inversions
A♭6 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
A♭6
Root position
| Notes | A♭ | C | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
A♭6/C
First inversion
| Notes | C | E♭ | F | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
A♭6/E♭
Second inversion
| Notes | E♭ | F | A♭ | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
A♭6/F
Third inversion
| Notes | F | A♭ | C | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Where A♭6 fits
All of its notes are in A♭ major, E♭ major and D♭ major, so it fits naturally in those keys.
How A♭6 is built
A♭ is the root, C the major third, E♭ the perfect fifth and F the major sixth.
A major sixth chord is a major chord plus the major sixth, 9 half steps above the root. A♭6 uses the same keys as F minor 7: the name depends on which note is heard as the root.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of A♭6 are A, C, E, F. That is why it is spelled A♭, C, E♭ and F.
Find A♭6 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of A♭6, in any octave and any order.
Practice A♭6 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the A♭6 chord?
A♭6 has four notes: A♭, C, E♭ and F. A♭ is the root, C the major third, E♭ the perfect fifth and F the major sixth.
What fingers do you use for A♭6 on piano?
In root position, play A♭, C, E♭ and F with right hand fingers 1, 2, 4 and 5 (thumb, index finger, ring finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of A♭6?
A♭6 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (A♭6/C): C, E♭, F and A♭. Second inversion (A♭6/E♭): E♭, F, A♭ and C. Third inversion (A♭6/F): F, A♭, C and E♭.
What is a major sixth chord?
A major sixth chord is a major chord plus the major sixth, 9 half steps above the root. A♭6 uses the same keys as F minor 7: the name depends on which note is heard as the root. All the notes of A♭6 are in A♭ major, E♭ major and D♭ major.