Abalt Piano Chord
A dominant chord with maximum tension — the specific tones (b5, #5, b9, #9) are chosen by the player based on context. An advanced jazz chord where the listed intervals represent one common voicing.
Recommended voicing
Left hand
Ab2 · Gb3
fingers 5–1
Right hand
D4 · B4 · C5
fingers 1–4–5
With bass · rootless
Left hand
D3 · Gb3 · B3 · C4
fingers 5–3–2–1
Right hand
Free
melody / improvisation
Jazz accompaniment with a bass player: the bass supplies the root, leaving the right hand free for melody or improvisation.
Other names for the Abalt chord
Other names: Ab altered
Music theory name: altered dominant chord
Common name: Ab altered chord
Notes and intervals in the Abalt chord
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| Ab | Root |
| C | Major 3rd |
| D | Diminished 5th |
| Gb | Minor 7th |
| B | Augmented 9th |