A♭6 guitar chord
How to play A♭6 on guitar — the notes A♭, C, E♭, F, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear A♭6 strummed. A♭6 is played as a barre chord around fret 11: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in A♭6
A major sixth chord is spelled from its root up: A♭ (R), C (3), E♭ (5), F (6). Those are the only notes in A♭6 — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still A♭6.
What a major sixth chord is
In plain terms, a major 6th adds the sixth to a major chord (root, 3rd, 5th, 6th) — a sweeter, more vintage alternative to the major 7.
How it's used: A soft, finished-sounding tonic: many old standards end on a 6 chord instead of a plain major for a warmer button.
The sound: Warm, nostalgic, breezy — 'sunny vintage'. Where you'll hear it: Jazz standards, swing, surf, and final chords that want to smile.
Hear A♭6 in a progression
A warm I6–IV vamp — that added 6th is the vintage sweetness. Press play, and drag the Key control to move it anywhere.
Other A♭ chords
major sixth chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open A♭6 in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See A♭6 on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in A♭6?
A♭6 is made of 4 notes: A♭ (the R), C (the 3), E♭ (the 5), F (the 6).
How do you play A♭6 on guitar?
A♭6 is played as a barre chord around fret 11: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
When would I use A♭6?
Jazz standards, swing, surf, and final chords that want to smile.