A♭ Dominant 7th Chord (Ab7, G#7) on Piano
The Ab7 chord (Ab dominant 7th) is built from 4 notes: Ab – C – Eb – Gb. It is also written as G#7.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Ab | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | root | 0 |
| C | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| Eb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| Gb | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 4 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Ab – C – Eb – Gb | Ab in the bass |
| 1st inversion | C – Eb – Gb – Ab | C in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Eb – Gb – Ab – C | Eb in the bass |
| 3rd inversion | Gb – Ab – C – Eb | Gb in the bass |
How the dominant 7th chord is built
Every dominant 7th chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones), b7 (10 semitones). Starting on Ab and applying that formula produces Ab, C, Eb, Gb. Learn the formula once and you can build a dominant 7th chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Ab7
Every note of Ab7 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Ab
Dominant 7th chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Ab7 chord?
A Ab7 chord contains the notes Ab, C, Eb, Gb. Those are the 1, 3, 5, b7 degrees measured from the root note Ab.
How do you play Ab7 on piano?
Place your thumb on Ab, then add C and Eb and Gb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–2–3–5.
Is Ab7 the same as G#7?
Yes. Ab7 and G#7 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.