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Circle of fifths

Key of A♭ major

Key signature: 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭). Scale: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G. Chords: A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, Gdim.

Chords in A♭ major

Each scale degree has a triad and a four-note seventh chord. Tap a chord for the guitar shape.

IA♭A♭maj7iiB♭mB♭m7iiiCmCm7IVD♭D♭maj7VE♭E♭7viFmFm7vii°GdimGm7b5

Capo tip: on guitar, put a capo on fret 1 and play the shapes of G major – then 4 of the main chords are easy open shapes (0 without a capo).

The A♭ major scale

A♭IB♭iiCiiiD♭IVE♭VFviGvii°
A♭ major scale on pianoCFGCFGD♭E♭A♭B♭D♭E♭A♭B♭
A♭ major scale on the guitar fretboardFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGCD♭E♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭357912

Full scale page and other scales from this note →

Related keys

Relative minorF minorsame key signatureParallel minorG♯ minorsame tonicA fifth upE♭ majorone more sharpA fifth downD♭ majorone more flat

Common progressions in A♭ major

ProgressionChordsGenerator
Pop progression (Axis)A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭Open in generator
Sensitive pop (vi–IV–I–V)Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭Open in generator
’50s progression (doo-wop)A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭Open in generator
Royal road (J-pop)D♭maj7 – E♭7 – Cm7 – Fm7Open in generator
Canon progressionA♭ – E♭ – Fm – Cm – D♭ – A♭ – D♭ – E♭Open in generator
Circle-of-fifths progressionA♭ – D♭ – Gdim – Cm – Fm – B♭m – E♭ – A♭Open in generator
Authentic cadence (I–IV–V–I)A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – A♭Open in generator
Folk and countryA♭ – A♭ – D♭ – A♭ – A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – A♭Open in generator
ii–V–I (jazz)B♭m7 – E♭7 – A♭maj7 – A♭maj7Open in generator
Turnaround (I–vi–ii–V)A♭maj7 – Fm7 – B♭m7 – E♭7Open in generator
12-bar bluesA♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7Open in generator
12-bar blues, quick changeA♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7Open in generator
Three-chord punkA♭5 – A♭5 – D♭5 – E♭5Open in generator
Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV)A♭ – G♭ – D♭ – A♭Open in generator
♭VI–♭VII–I (victory cadence)A♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭Open in generator
Major-to-minor IV (I–iii–IV–iv)A♭ – Cm – D♭ – D♭mOpen in generator

Major keys

Minor keys

Frequently asked questions

How many sharps or flats are in A♭ major?

A♭ major has 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭). Its relative minor is F minor, with the same key signature.

What chords are in the key of A♭ major?

The triads built on the scale degrees: A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, Gdim. The main chords used most often: A♭, D♭, E♭, Fm.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash