Learn all about the A-flat major scale on piano, including its notes, diatonic chords, fingerings, relative minor, and fun songs in the key of A-flat major!
In this article, we’ll share a video of how to play the A♭major scale on piano with Mr. Hoffman. We’ll also cover the correct finger patterns and how to build chords in the key of A♭major. We’ll offer suggestions of songs to play and listen to in A♭major and share some fun facts.
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Interesting background on the A-flat major scale
The A♭major scale has its own distinct characteristics, which give it a special place in music composition and performance. Here are a few noteworthy points about the scale:
- It has a warm and lush sound: Composers sometimes use this key to evoke specific moods or atmospheres in their pieces. Beethoven used the key of A♭major for the slow and contemplative second movements of his famous works in C minor – notably the Fifth Symphony and the Piano Sonata No. 8.
- It’s popular in piano music: Several famous pieces have been written in this key, including Schubert’s Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 and Chopin’s Prelude Op. 28 No. 17.
- It’s important for technical development: Learning the A♭major scale helps familiarize performers with flats and navigate more complex key signatures.
- It was used in Romantic period music: A♭major was a favored key in the Romantic music period, being featured in many lyrical, expressive pieces. Its warm sound made it a popular choice for evoking rich, deep emotions in music.
- Also used in Jazz: A♭major offers interesting opportunities for improvisation, with blue notes (flatted third and seventh tones) coming from lowered versions of the notes from this scale.
The notes of the A-flat major scale
The scale of A♭major starts on A♭ and has four flats in its key signature. The notes are A♭(A-flat), B♭(B-flat), C, D♭(D-flat), E♭(E-flat), F, G and A♭(A-flat).
The A-flat major key signature
The key signature for A♭major looks like this when written on the treble staff:
Here’s a useful tip to help you know what key you’re in when a key signature has flats. Find the second-to-last flat in the key signature. That will be the tonic, the first note of the scale, and the name of the key. In this key signature, the second-to-last flat is an A♭, so you know this is the key of A♭major.
The relative minor of A-flat major
The relative minor of the A♭ major scale is F minor. Both scales share the same key signature, which includes four flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, and D♭. Each is played using these four black keys on the piano.
The relative minor scale can always be found by locating the sixth note in the major scale, which, in this case, is F, thereby giving us the relative minor scale of F minor.
How do you play the A-flat major scale on piano?
You can watch the video above to see the A♭major piano pentascale played by Mr. Hoffman!
To play the full octave scale, use the following fingerings:
Right hand placement for the A♭major scale when going up:
3 on A♭
4 on B♭
Pass the thumb under:
1 on C
2 on D♭
3 on E♭
Pass the thumb under:
1 on F
2 on G
3 on A♭
Left hand placement for the A♭major scale:
3 on A♭
2 on B♭
1 on C
Cross the 4th finger over:
4 on D♭
3 on E♭
2 on F
1 on G
Cross the 3rd finger over:
3 on A♭
When coming down the A♭major scale, simply reverse the finger order like this:
Right hand:
3 on A♭
2 on G
1 on F
Cross the 3rd finger over:
3 on E♭
2 on D♭
1 on C
Cross the 4th finger over:
4 on B♭
3 on A♭
Left hand:
3 on A♭
Pass the thumb under:
1 on G
2 on F
3 on E♭
4 on D♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on C
2 on B♭
3 on A♭
Chords in the key of A-flat major
Here are the chords based on each scale degree in the A-flat major scale, along with their Roman numeral representations:
A♭ Major (I): A♭ – C – E♭
B♭ minor (ii): B♭ – D♭ – F
C minor (iii): C – E♭ – G
D♭ Major (IV): D♭ – F – A♭
E♭ Major (V): E♭ – G – B♭
F minor (vi): F – A♭ – C
G diminished (vii°): G – B♭ – D♭
These are the triads you get by using only the notes of the A-flat major scale. You can also elaborate these chords by adding additional notes from the scale and turning them into seventh chords. For instance, by adding a G to an A♭major chord, you create an A♭maj7 chord (A♭ – C – E♭ – G). Adjusting the type of seventh you add can give you additional types of seventh chords, like dominant or minor sevenths.
If you’d like some handy reference guides for chords and triads in all keys, download these free resources from the Hoffman Academy Store:
Songs in the key of A-flat major
Looking for your first piano piece that uses the A♭major scale? Try Au Clair de la Lune from Unit 5 of the Hoffman Method. This elementary-level French folk song introduces the key of A♭major in a tuneful and delightful way. Scott Joplin used the key of A♭major for the Maple Leaf Rag, a famous piano piece for more advanced players. Also for advanced pianists, Beethoven composed the Second Movement of Sonata no. 8 – Pathetique in A♭major. Fun fact: this sonata’s first movement is in C minor – just like in Symphony No. 5, Beethoven uses the warm key of A♭major for contrast.
Want to learn all of the major scales on piano? Download our free Guide to All Major Scales now!