A♭m13 — A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭, F — is a minor 13th chord: m7 + 9 + 13. The 13 sits a major 6th above the root, two octaves up — borrowed from Dorian or melodic minor like the m6 chord's sixth.
Intervals
The Ab minor 13 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- Ab→Cbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Cb→Ebmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Eb→Gbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Gb→Bbmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Bb→Fperfect 5th7 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the Ab minor 13 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the Ab minor 13 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1Ab
- ♭3Cb
- 5Eb
- ♭7Gb
- 9Bb
- 13F
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 13th (F). It sits more than an octave above the root, which is why the chord needs a wide voicing — in tight piano voicings the 13th usually appears in the top register while the root and lower triad tones cluster below.
In context
Functions as a fully-extended iim13 or im13 — a complete minor sonority in modern jazz harmony.
Drill it
The Ab minor 13 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzleRelated
Frequently asked
- What notes are in a A♭m13 chord?
- A♭m13 contains six notes: A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭, F.
- How is A♭m13 different from A♭m7?
- A♭m13 adds the 13th (F) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 13th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is A♭m13 used in music?
- Functions as a fully-extended iim13 or im13 — a complete minor sonority in modern jazz harmony.