About the A flat Natural Minor scale
A flat Natural Minor is used for ballads, cinematic themes and emotional rock and pop. Think of it as the classic sad, serious minor sound. It is A♭ Dorian with the sixth lowered.
Its notes are A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The formula is W H W W H W W. It is the sixth mode of C♭ Major.
Also called the Aeolian mode, Melodic Minor Descending, and Asavari. The descending form of the melodic minor scale uses these same notes.
The black keys A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭ belong to this mode.
Chords in the key of A flat Natural Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i A flat minor
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
ii° B flat diminished
B flat diminished over D flat (1st inversion)
III C flat
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
iv D flat minor
D flat minor over F flat (1st inversion)
v E flat minor
E flat minor over G flat (1st inversion)
VI F flat
F flat over A flat (1st inversion)
VII G flat
G flat over B flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A flat Natural Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i A flat minor seven
A flat minor seven
ii° B flat minor seven flat five
B flat minor seven flat five
III C flat major seven
C flat major seven
iv D flat minor seven
D flat minor seven
v E flat minor seven
E flat minor seven
VI F flat major seven
F flat major seven
VII G flat seven
G flat seven
Progressions in A flat Natural Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbB♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | CbC♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FbF♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | GbG♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | A flat | B flat | C flat | D flat | E flat | F flat | G flat | A flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Natural Minor in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.