Common
About the A flat Major scale
A flat Major is used for anthems, pop hooks, hymns and anything that should feel uplifting and stable. Think of it as the bright, resolved, "happy" sound that anchors most pop, folk and classical music. It is A♭ Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
A♭ Major draws four black keys from the piano, A♭, B♭, D♭, and E♭.
Chords in the key of A flat Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
A flat over C (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C minor over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E flat over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F minor over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G diminished over B flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A flat Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
A flat major seven
B flat minor seven
C minor seven
D flat major seven
E flat seven
F minor seven
G minor seven flat five
Progressions in A flat Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbB♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | CC | Major 3rd |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FF | Major 6th |
| 7 | GG | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | A flat | B flat | C | D flat | E flat | F | G | A flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Practicing it
In the right hand, the thumb comes under on C and F. Going up, the left hand crosses over after its thumb plays C and G. Every black key here, A♭, B♭, D♭, and E♭, sits under a long finger, with the fourth finger anchoring on B♭, so the thumb never has to reach onto the raised group.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
The relative minor is F Natural Minor scale.
Major in other keys
C Major scaleD flat Major scaleD Major scaleE flat Major scaleE Major scaleF Major scaleG flat Major scaleG Major scaleA Major scaleB flat Major scaleB Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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