A♭m6 — A♭, C♭, E♭, F — is an A♭ minor triad with an added major sixth. The C♭ (enharmonic to B) marks the deeply flat-side spelling. The chord is enharmonic to G♯m6 in sharp keys and to F half-diminished in pitch.
Intervals
The Ab minor 6 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- Ab→Cbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Cb→Ebmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Eb→Fmajor 2nd2 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the Ab minor 6 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the Ab minor 6 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1Ab
- ♭3Cb
- 5Eb
- 6F
Common mistakes
A♭m6 uses C♭ as its minor third — enharmonic to B natural. The spelling is rare; in practical music G♯m6 is used. The chord is enharmonic to F half-diminished, which gives it a useful modulating role.
In context
A♭m6 doesn't function as a primary tonic in working music. The chord may appear briefly inside dense chromatic flat-key passages; everywhere else the enharmonic G♯m6 covers the harmonic territory.
Drill it
The Ab minor 6 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.
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Frequently asked
- What notes are in an A♭m6 chord?
- A♭m6 contains four notes: A♭ (root), C♭ (minor third — same as B), E♭ (perfect fifth), and F (major sixth).
- Is A♭m6 the same as G♯m6?
- Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. A♭m6 (with C♭) is rare; G♯m6 is the standard sharp-side spelling.
- Why is the third C♭ instead of B?
- The m6 chord uses each scale-letter once. A♭ minor uses letters A-C-E-F (sometimes G). The third lands on C, which is C♭ when lowered from C natural.
- When does A♭m6 appear in real music?
- Essentially never as a working chord. The spelling appears only in deep chromatic flat-key contexts. Practical music uses G♯m6 instead.