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TroyJames
04-06-2012, 11:35 PM
studying some sheet music this evening and one of the chord notations reads as "Ab7". The piece is written in the key of C. Now would this mean the chord is an Ab dominant 7 or is it just another way to write an A7 (A Dominant 7)? I'm assuming it's the latter of the 2, just written in an unusual, for me, way.

stantonl
04-07-2012, 12:32 AM
I believe that would be an Ab dominant 7. I've actually been studying seventh chords this week so it's pretty fresh in my mind.

Basslad
04-07-2012, 12:48 AM
Stantonl is right. It is Ab dominant 7 chord. It is not an alternate way to write A7. Happy Easter Everyone!

TobiasMan
04-07-2012, 12:50 AM
Not sure what you are looking at, but an Ab7 root chord is a different chord than an A7 root chord. Unless there is a notation error, an Ab7 chord is a semi tone below an A7. :confused:

Bassix
04-07-2012, 08:10 AM
I think Stantonl and Basslad are correct.

In the key of C major you wouldn't expect to see an Ab chord, Troy, but if the key is C minor you can have an Ab major chord (Ab is the sixth interval of C minor) with a flatted 7th - in other words, Ab dominant 7th.

TroyJames
04-07-2012, 10:07 AM
Thanks everyone. That's what threw me, was that the piece is in the key of C but it is a jazz song so.........

TobiasMan
04-07-2012, 08:46 PM
Hmmmm . . . .

Yep, jazz composers can come up with almost any combination regardless of its "legitimacy" - its jazz! ;)