A-flat dominant seventh
Ab7 Piano Voicings
Ab7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making Ab7 one of the four core shapes to drill.
Drill Ab7 in all 12 keysThe notes in Ab7
- Ab R
- C 3
- Eb 5
- Gb ♭7
Ab7 voicings on piano
Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.
Root Position
Ab · C · Eb · Gb R · 3 · 5 · ♭7
Shell Voicing
Ab · C · Gb R · 3 · ♭7
Rootless A
C · Eb · Gb · Bb 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
Gb · Bb · C · Eb ♭7 · 9 · 3 · 5
Where Ab7 fits in a ii-V-I
Ab7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making Ab7 one of the four core shapes to drill.
The fastest way to internalise Ab7 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionAb7 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in Ab7?
Ab7 contains Ab, C, Eb, Gb — root, major third, perfect fifth and flat seventh. The flat seventh is what makes it a dominant chord.
What is the shell voicing for Ab7?
The Ab7 shell voicing is root, third and flat seventh. The third and seventh — the guide tones — carry the dominant sound.
Why does Ab7 sound unresolved?
The major third and flat seventh of Ab7 form a tritone, an unstable interval that pulls strongly toward resolution.