How to play Ab7b5: a dominant 7th flat 5 built on Ab, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 4 3 4 x 3 x (x = not played).
| Note | Ab | C | Ebb | Gb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b5 | b7 |
Ab7b5 is a dominant 7th flat 5 with Ab as its root. The full theoretical spelling is Ab, C, Ebb, Gb. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
Ab7b5 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
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Ab7b5 is spelled Ab, C, Ebb, Gb: the root, 3rd, flat 5th, flat 7th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 4 3 4 x 3 x (x means the string is not played). Fret the A and B strings at the 3rd fret. Add the low E and D strings at the 4th fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the G and high E strings.
Ab7b5 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
