ChordsAb6
Guitar chord · five voicings

Ab 6th Guitar Chord (Ab6)

The Ab 6th chord (Ab6) is built from the notes Ab, C, Eb, and F: the R, 3, 5, 6 of Ab. Below are the five ways to play Ab6 on guitar, laid out in order from the lowest position on the neck to the highest.

A sixth chord is vintage and sweet, a major chord with an added sixth for a rootsy lift. The lowest shape starts around fret 1, and Ab6 appears in four more positions higher up the neck.

Notes in Ab6

AbR
C3
Eb5
F6

How to play Ab6: five positions

Gform1frAbRC3Eb5AbRC3F6
Frets 1 to 4
Eform4frAbREb5AbRC3F6AbR
Frets 4 to 6
Dform6fr××AbREb5F6C3
Frets 6 to 8
Cform8fr×AbRC3F6AbRC3
Frets 8 to 11
Aform11fr×AbREb5AbRC3F6
Frets 11 to 13

Strings run low E to high e, left to right. Dots are finger positions, a ringed dot is the root (Ab), an × means don't play that string, and the label on the right (like "11fr") is the starting fret. Under each shape are the notes it sounds and their role in the chord.

Hear it and explore other chords →

The free interactive Chord Library lets you switch roots and flavors instantly and see every voicing update live.

Other Ab chords

The 6th chord in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Ab 6th chord?
The Ab 6th chord (Ab6) contains the notes Ab, C, Eb, and F. Those are the R, 3, 5, 6 of Ab, so the chord is Ab (the root), C (the third), Eb (the fifth), and F (the sixth).
How do you play Ab6 on guitar?
There are five ways to play Ab6, one for each CAGED shape. The lowest shape starts around fret 1, and Ab6 appears in four more positions higher up the neck. A nearby voicing often makes an awkward chord change much easier, so if one shape fights you, try the next one up or down the neck.
What does a Ab6 chord sound like?
A sixth chord is vintage and sweet, a major chord with an added sixth for a rootsy lift. You can hear Ab6 and any progression built from it in the free interactive tools on this site.
Is Ab6 a hard chord to play?
Ab6 has no open shape in standard tuning, so it is usually played as a barre chord. That takes a little hand strength, but the shape is movable: learn it once and you can slide it to other roots.