A♭13 — A♭, C, E♭, G♭, B♭, F — is a dominant 13th chord: dominant 7 + 9 + 13. The 13 is a major 6th above the root, an octave up; the chord is the standard big-V chord in jazz cadences.
Intervals
The Ab dominant 13 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- Ab→Cmajor 3rd4 semitones
- C→Ebminor 3rd3 semitones
- Eb→Gbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Gb→Bbmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Bb→Fperfect 5th7 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the Ab dominant 13 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the Ab dominant 13 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1Ab
- 3C
- 5Eb
- ♭7Gb
- 9Bb
- 13F
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 13th (F). It sits more than an octave above the root, which is why the chord needs a wide voicing — in tight piano voicings the 13th usually appears in the top register while the root and lower triad tones cluster below.
In context
Functions as the fully-extended V13 — the standard big-dominant in jazz cadences.
Drill it
The Ab dominant 13 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
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Frequently asked
- What notes are in a A♭13 chord?
- A♭13 contains six notes: A♭, C, E♭, G♭, B♭, F.
- How is A♭13 different from A♭7?
- A♭13 adds the 13th (F) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 13th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is A♭13 used in music?
- Functions as the fully-extended V13 — the standard big-dominant in jazz cadences.