A♭ Minor Scale (Ab)
The Ab minor scale (also called Ab natural minor or Ab Aeolian) contains Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb. Its key signature has 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb. It uses the same piano keys as G# minor, spelled G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E – F# (5 sharps).
| Note | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
Ab minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to Cb and Fb. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Db and finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Gb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
Ab minor has 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb. Its relative major is Cb major (the same keys as B major), which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of Ab minor and of B major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Ab |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | 0 |
| 2 | Bb | 2 |
| b3 | Cb | 3 |
| 4 | Db | 5 |
| 5 | Eb | 7 |
| b6 | Fb | 8 |
| b7 | Gb | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (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 Natural Minor
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 Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Abm | Ab Cb Eb |
| 2 | ii° | Bbdim | Bb Db Fb |
| 3 | III | Cb | Cb Eb Gb |
| 4 | iv | Dbm | Db Fb Ab |
| 5 | v | Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| 6 | VI | Fb | Fb Ab Cb |
| 7 | VII | Gb | Gb Bb Db |
Other modes on Ab
More scales on Ab
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Ab Natural Minor scale?
The Ab Natural Minor scale contains Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, then returns to Ab an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the Ab minor 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 3 2 1 4 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in Ab minor?
Ab minor has 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Ab Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Abm, Bbdim, Cb, Dbm, Ebm, Fb, Gb. Each is built only from notes of the Ab Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.