Chord
A♭ 9 Chord
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this chord.
Notes
A♭ · C · E♭ · G♭ · B♭
Root: A♭
Intervals
1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
How it is built
This chord starts on A♭ and applies the intervals 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9. The result contains 5 distinct pitch classes per octave.
Explore related combinations
Guide and musical context
About A♭ 9 Chord
A♭ 9 Chord contains A♭, C, E♭, G♭, B♭. Its sound is rich and tense, extending the dominant with a ninth.
Character and sound
Rich and tense, extending the dominant with a ninth.
Musical context and history
The dominant ninth extends a 7 chord while keeping its dominant tension. It is classic vocabulary in jazz, blues, funk, soul and R&B.
How and where it is used
It may resolve as a dominant or act as a stable vamp in groove-based styles.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
As a dominant sonority on A♭, a common functional resolution moves toward C♯. Alterations and extensions change the color while preserving that tension-and-resolution reference.
The formula on this page is 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9 and, from A♭, produces the notes A♭ · C · E♭ · G♭ · B♭.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♭ 9 Chord?
The notes are A♭, C, E♭, G♭, B♭.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Rich and tense, extending the dominant with a ninth. It may resolve as a dominant or act as a stable vamp in groove-based styles.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.