How to play the Ab69 chord on guitar

The Ab69 chord, pronounced "A flat six nine", is a richly layered and expressive chord that adds depth to progressions. Notable for its dreamy, jazz-influenced sound, the Ab69 is often used in neo-soul, R&B, and funk music to create lush harmonic textures. Its unique voicing, which includes both the sixth and ninth notes of the scale, offers endless possibilities for creative chord substitutions.

The most common way to play the Ab69 chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 6th fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a Ab69 chord on your guitar:

1. Use your index finger to barre the strings at the 6th fret, from the 6th (low E) string to the 1st (high E) string
2. Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 5th (A) string
3. Place your ring finger on the 8th fret of the 4th (D) string
4. Place your pinky finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd (B) string

To strum this chord, use your pick or thumb to play down across all six strings. Make sure your barre and fingering are pressed firmly to allow all notes to ring out clearly.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Ab69 chord, try playing an Ab major chord instead. Place your index finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string, your middle finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd (G) string, and your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd (B) string.

Playing the Ab69 chord as a barre chord can make it easier to transition to and from other nearby chords, and gives the chord a fuller sound.

Here's how to play an Ab69 barre chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 4th fret (barre).
2. Place your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 6th fret of the 4th (D) string.
4. Strum all six strings from low to high.

The Ab69 chord, with its bittersweet and dreamy qualities, is often used in chord progressions to evoke a sense of nostalgia, melancholy, or romantic longing. Here are some common chord progressions featuring the Ab69 chord:

• vi69 - IV - I - V (Ab69 - Db - Eb - Bb)
• iii69 - vi - ii - V (Gm69 - Cm - Fm - Bb)
• I69 - vi - IV - V (Eb69 - Cm - Ab - Bb)
• ii69 - V - I (Fm69 - Bb - Eb)
• IV69 - V - vi (Ab69 - Bb - Cm)

To master the Ab69 guitar chord, try practicing a simple strumming pattern. Start by slowly strumming down and up, focusing on hitting all the notes cleanly. Gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the chord.

Another effective drill is to practice transitioning to and from the Ab69 chord. Choose a few chords that you already know, and create a progression that includes the Ab69. Play through the progression slowly at first, ensuring that each chord rings out clearly. As you improve, try to make the transitions smoother and faster.

Here are 8 popular songs you can play with the Ab69 chord:

1. All of Me by John Legend (Ab, Fm7, Db, Eb)
2. Stay With Me by Sam Smith (Ab, Fm, Db, Eb)
3. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran (Ab, Db/Ab, Bbm7, Eb)
4. Someone Like You by Adele (Ab, Db, Bbm, Eb)
5. Say Something by A Great Big World (Ab, Db, Bbm, Eb)
6. Hello by Adele (Ab, Eb, Db, Bbm)
7. Love on the Brain by Rihanna (Ab, Fm7, Db, Eb)
8. When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (Ab, Fm7, Db, Eb)