A phrase in D♭ major
- D♭
- A♭9
- A♭7
- D♭
Hear A♭9 in a tonic–chord–dominant–tonic phrase. Its role depends on its position, not just its quality.
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Selected:A♭3C4E♭4G♭4B♭4
- Root
- 3rd / sus
- 5th
- 7th
- 6th / extensions
A♭9
A♭ dominant ninth
A dominant seventh chord with a major ninth on top.
- Chord tones
- A♭1 · RootC3 · 3rdE♭5 · 5thG♭♭7 · 7thB♭9 · Ext
- Formula
- 1–3–5–♭7–9
- Root / bass
- A♭ / A♭
- Notes played (low → high)
- A♭3 · C4 · E♭4 · G♭4 · B♭4
A♭9 · dominant ninth
How to Use This Chord
Sound & role
Adds colour to a triad; its key and surrounding chords determine its harmonic role.
Genre examples
Jazz
Soul
Pop
Examples of musical settings, not restrictions or claims about how often this chord appears.
Connection & passing potential
No specific chromatic passing use is established by these notes alone. A passing function requires a starting chord, a destination and voice movement.
Diatonic context · example keys
Every chord tone fits these example keys. Other keys may also fit; the chord root is not assumed to be the tonic.
D♭ major · V9
major
D♭ minor · V9
ascending melodic minor