What are the notes in the A♭ major scale?

A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G.

What is the relative minor of A♭ major?

F minor — same four-flat key signature.

What are the chords in the key of A♭ major?

A♭ major (I), B♭ minor (ii), C minor (iii), D♭ major (IV), E♭ major (V), F minor (vi), and G diminished (vii°).

Key of Ab major — notes, key signature, and chords

A♭ major has four flats — B♭, E♭, A♭, and D♭ — and is one of the warmest keys in the western system. Chopin and Schubert wrote some of their most lyrical works in A♭, and it's common in jazz ballads as a key just dark enough to feel intimate without being heavy. It sits four counter-clockwise steps from C on the circle of fifths.

Key signature

4flats

1.B♭
2.E♭
3.A♭
4.D♭

Added in the standard order of flats.

Diatonic chords

The seven triads built on each scale degree. These are the chords you hear used most in Ab major:

Roman	Chord	Quality	Notes
I	Ab	major	Ab · C · Eb
ii	Bbm	minor	Bb · Db · F
iii	Cm	minor	C · Eb · G
IV	Db	major	Db · F · Ab
V	Eb	major	Eb · G · Bb
vi	Fm	minor	F · Ab · C
vii°	G°	diminished	G · Bb · Db

Common progressions

I–V–vi–IV in A♭ is A♭–E♭–Fm–D♭. The jazz ii–V–I is B♭m–E♭–A♭ — a workhorse cadence in standards. The relative minor F minor shares the same four-flat key signature.

Relative minor

The relative minor of Ab major is F minor — it shares the same key signature, just centred on the 6th degree of the Ab major scale (F). A piece can move between Ab major and F minor freely without any change of accidentals.

Common mistakes

The four flats are added in order: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭. The trap is the D♭ — beginners often play D natural by mistake. Pianists find A♭ comfortable once learned because the hand falls on a pattern of black keys with predictable thumb placement.

Drill it

The Circle of Fifths trainer drills every key signature — Ab major included — with timed flash cards and best-time tracking.

Open the Circle of Fifths Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

How many flats does A♭ major have?: A♭ major has four flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, and D♭.
What are the notes in the A♭ major scale?: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G.
What is the relative minor of A♭ major?: F minor — same four-flat key signature.
What are the chords in the key of A♭ major?: A♭ major (I), B♭ minor (ii), C minor (iii), D♭ major (IV), E♭ major (V), F minor (vi), and G diminished (vii°).