A♭ Major Scale (Ab)
The Ab major scale (also called Ab Ionian) contains Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G. Its key signature has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
| Note | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | G | Ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
Ab major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to C and F. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Db and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Ab. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
Ab major has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. Its relative minor is F minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of Ab major and of F minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Ab |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | 0 |
| 2 | Bb | 2 |
| 3 | C | 4 |
| 4 | Db | 5 |
| 5 | Eb | 7 |
| 6 | F | 9 |
| 7 | G | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Ab Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Ab Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 2 | ii | Bbm | Bb Db F |
| 3 | iii | Cm | C Eb G |
| 4 | IV | Db | Db F Ab |
| 5 | V | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 6 | vi | Fm | F Ab C |
| 7 | vii° | Gdim | G Bb Db |
Other modes on Ab
More scales on Ab
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Ab Major scale?
The Ab Major scale contains Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, then returns to Ab an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the Ab major scale on piano?
Going up from Ab to Ab, the right hand plays 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in Ab major?
Ab major has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Ab Major scale?
The diatonic chords are Ab, Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb, Fm, Gdim. Each is built only from notes of the Ab Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.