Key · major
The key of A♭ Major
A♭ Major has 4 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭). Its scale is A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G. The seven chords built on those degrees are I A♭, ii B♭m, iii Cm, IV D♭, V E♭, vi Fm and vii° Gdim; the dominant is E♭ and the subdominant D♭. Its relative minor is F Minor and its parallel minor is G♯ Minor.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the A♭ Major scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | B♭ | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C | Mediant | Major 3rd |
| 4 | D♭ | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E♭ | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Submediant | Major 6th |
| 7 | G | Leading Tone | Major 7th |
Chords in A♭ Major
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is E♭ and the subdominant D♭.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | A♭ | Major | A♭maj7 |
| ii | B♭m | Minor | B♭m7 |
| iii | Cm | Minor | Cm7 |
| IV | D♭ | Major | D♭maj7 |
| V | E♭ | Major | E♭7 |
| vi | Fm | Minor | Fm7 |
| vii° | Gdim | Diminished | Gm7♭5 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | I · iii · vi |
| Subdominant | ii · IV |
| Dominant | V · vii° |
Common progressions in A♭ Major
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| I – IV – V | A♭ – D♭ – E♭ | Easy |
| I – IV – V – I | A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – A♭ | Easy |
| I – V – vi – IV | A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭ | Easy |
| I – vi – IV – V | A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭ | Easy |
| I – IV – I – V | A♭ – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ | Easy |
| I – V – IV – I | A♭ – E♭ – D♭ – A♭ | Easy |
| I – IV – V – IV | A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – D♭ | Easy |
| I – ii – IV – V | A♭ – B♭m – D♭ – E♭ | Easy |
| vi – IV – I – V | Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ | Medium |
| I – vi – ii – V | A♭ – Fm – B♭m – E♭ | Medium |
| I – IV – vi – V | A♭ – D♭ – Fm – E♭ | Medium |
| I – iii – IV – V | A♭ – Cm – D♭ – E♭ | Medium |
| I – iii – vi – IV | A♭ – Cm – Fm – D♭ | Medium |
| IV – I – V – vi | D♭ – A♭ – E♭ – Fm | Medium |
| I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V | A♭ – E♭ – Fm – Cm – D♭ – A♭ – D♭ – E♭ | Medium |
| I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I | A♭ – D♭ – Gdim – Cm – Fm – B♭m – E♭ – A♭ | Hard |
| ii – V – I | B♭m – E♭ – A♭ | Medium |
| iim7 – V7 – Imaj7 | B♭m7 – E♭7 – A♭maj7 | Hard |
| ii – V – I – vi | B♭m – E♭ – A♭ – Fm | Hard |
| I – VI – ii – V | A♭ – F – B♭m – E♭ | Hard |
| I – II – V – I | A♭ – B♭ – E♭ – A♭ | Hard |
| I – bVII – IV – I | A♭ – G♭ – D♭ – A♭ | Medium |
| I – bIII – IV | A♭ – C♭ – D♭ | Medium |
| I – V – bVII – IV | A♭ – E♭ – G♭ – D♭ | Medium |
| I – bVI – bVII – I | A♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ | Hard |
| I – IV – iv – I | A♭ – D♭ – D♭m – A♭ | Hard |
| 12-Bar Blues (I7 – IV7 – V7) | A♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 | Medium |
| Quick-Change Blues | A♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 | Medium |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.