Ab13 Ukulele Chord
Ab13 on ukulele is 8-6-8-8: put your index finger on the 6th fret of the C string, your middle finger on the 8th fret of the g string, your ring finger on the 8th fret of the E string and your little finger on the 8th fret of the A string. It is a four-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast. You will also see it written as G#13, G sharp thirteenth.
- Notes: Ab, C, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db and F
- Frets: 8 6 8 8
- Tuning: g C E A
Ab13 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Dominant 13th
- Also known as
- G#13, or Ab thirteenth
- Formula
- 1 3 5 b7 9 11 13
- Intervals
- Ab (root), C (major 3rd), Eb (perfect 5th), Gb (minor 7th), Bb (major 9th), Db (perfect 11th), F (major 13th)
- Notes
- Ab, C, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db and F
- Frets
- 8 6 8 8
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Ab13 chord
Here is the Ab13 chord step by step:
- Put your middle finger on the 8th fret of the g string.
- Put your index finger on the 6th fret of the C string.
- Put your ring finger on the 8th fret of the E string.
- Put your little finger on the 8th fret of the A string.
- Strum all four strings.
It is a bit of a stretch, so go slow and let your hand learn the shape. These quick tips for tricky chords help. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play Ab13?
Not really. 8-6-8-8 is already the simplest playable shape for Ab13 on a ukulele; every alternative either needs more fingers or sits higher up the neck. If it still feels awkward, the tips above are the fix.
What notes are in the Ab13 chord?
The Ab13 chord is built from seven notes: Ab, C, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db and F (the root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 9th, perfect 11th and major 13th). That flat seventh makes a dominant 7th restless. It leans forward and wants to resolve to the next chord, which is why it turns up all over blues and folk. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Want to go further?
Once Ab13 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Ab7, Abmaj7, Abm and Ab. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.