A♭7 (A♭7)

Also called G♯7 (G♯7).

A dominant seventh chord: a major chord with an added minor seventh. It creates tension that pulls toward the next chord.

There’s no open shape: it’s played as a barre chord, starting at the 4th fret. It pulls toward D♭ major: you hear it right before the return home in songs in D♭ major, and all over the blues.

Notes:: A♭, C, E♭, G♭.
Formula:: 1, 3, 5, ♭7.
Difficulty:: Intermediate.
Strings played:: 6.

Chord diagram

e|--4--|
B|--4--|
G|--5--|
D|--4--|
A|--6--|
E|--4--|

Other positions

e|--11--|
B|--13--|
G|--11--|
D|--13--|
A|--11--|
E|--x---|

Capo tip: put the capo at the 1st fret and play the G7 shape: you hear A♭7, with no barre.The capo

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around A♭7.

e|--4--|
B|--6--|
G|--6--|
D|--6--|
A|--4--|
E|--x--|

D♭ majorresolution

e|--2--|
B|--2--|
G|--3--|
D|--4--|
A|--4--|
E|--2--|

F♯ majorIV of the key

e|--6--|
B|--7--|
G|--8--|
D|--8--|
A|--6--|
E|--x--|

E♭ minorii of the key