Key of Ab
The key of A♭ major has four flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭). Its seven notes are A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G. Its relative minor is F Minor, which shares the same notes and key signature. The chords that belong to the key are I A♭ major, ii B♭ minor, iii C minor, IV D♭ major, V E♭ major, vi F minor, vii° G diminished. Its dominant is E♭ major and its subdominant is D♭ major — the keys it most naturally moves toward. Keys built on flats, like A♭ major, are traditionally described as warm and mellow.
Key Signature
The notes of the Ab Major come from Ab Major, so it carries that key signature: 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭).
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Relative minor: F Minor scale — same notes, same key signature, different home note.
Chords in the Key of A♭ Major
Every major key is built from seven diatonic chords — one on each note of the scale. In A♭ major they are I A♭ Major, ii B♭ Minor, iii C Minor, IV D♭ Major, V E♭ Major, vi F Minor, and vii° G Diminished. Tap any chord to light it up on the keyboard.
Common chord progressions in A♭ major
Everything in the key of Ab
Every chord, scale, and mode in Ab — click any link for the full interactive page with piano diagrams, audio, notation, and fingerings.