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A-flat Dominant 7th Chord
The A-flat Dominant 7th Chord is A-flat, C, E-flat, and G-flat, with only the second note on a white key. The hand rests mostly on the black keys, and the chord pulls toward D-flat. Let's listen for the G-flat on top, since it's the note that creates that pull.
How to play the A-flat Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the A-flat Dominant 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the A♭ dominant 7th chord are stacked in thirds with A♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♭ C E♭ G♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭7 |
The A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (C) becomes the bottom note, and the root (A♭) jumps up to the top.
| A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C E♭ G♭ A♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭6/5 or A♭7/C |
The A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (E♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (C) goes to the top.
| A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E♭ G♭ A♭ C |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭4/3 or A♭7/E♭ |
The A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (G♭) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (E♭) goes to the top.
| A-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G♭ A♭ C E♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A♭4/2 or A♭7/G♭ |
A-flat Dominant 7th Chord theory and function
The dominant 7th is the chord that most wants to resolve. Its third and seventh form a tritone, and each of those notes pulls by step: the third up, the seventh down. That pull is what makes V7 lead so firmly to I.
The A♭ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in D♭ major. On the keyboard this is the same chord as G♯ dominant 7th, and the spelling follows the key. The G♯ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in C♯ minor.
The resolution is A♭7 – D♭: C steps up to D♭ and G♭ steps down to F. At a cadence, V7 – I is the sound of a phrase ending. When a dominant 7th chord turns up in a key where it isn’t the V7 (the chord built on the fifth scale degree), it is almost always pointing at the chord a fourth above it. Try playing A♭7 and then D♭ and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on A-flat
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