Ab7 chord (A flat dominant seventh) on bass
Ab7 (A flat dominant seventh) has four notes: A flat, C, E flat and G flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. In major keys, Ab7 is the V7 chord in Db major.
How to play Ab7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Ab7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | Abdom7 |
| Notes | Ab C Eb Gb |
| Formula | 1 3 5 b7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh |
| Type | Dominant seventh chord |
Ab7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 Gb (flat 7), fret 4 Ab (1), fret 8 C (3), fret 11 Eb (5), fret 14 Gb (flat 7), fret 16 Ab (1), fret 20 C (3), fret 23 Eb (5).
- A string: fret 3 C (3), fret 6 Eb (5), fret 9 Gb (flat 7), fret 11 Ab (1), fret 15 C (3), fret 18 Eb (5), fret 21 Gb (flat 7), fret 23 Ab (1).
- D string: fret 1 Eb (5), fret 4 Gb (flat 7), fret 6 Ab (1), fret 10 C (3), fret 13 Eb (5), fret 16 Gb (flat 7), fret 18 Ab (1), fret 22 C (3).
- G string: fret 1 Ab (1), fret 5 C (3), fret 8 Eb (5), fret 11 Gb (flat 7), fret 13 Ab (1), fret 17 C (3), fret 20 Eb (5), fret 23 Gb (flat 7).
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Questions
What notes are in the Ab7 chord?
Ab7 (A flat dominant seventh) has four notes: A flat, C, E flat and G flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. Ab is the root, C is the major third, Eb is the perfect fifth and Gb is the minor seventh.
How do you play Ab7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 16. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is Ab7 in?
In major keys, Ab7 is the V7 chord in Db major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Ab7 and Ab?
Ab7 is Ab (Ab, C and Eb) with a flat 7th added: Gb.