Ab Major
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | Ab |
| Mode | Major |
| Accidentals | 4 flats |
| Key Signature Notes | Bb, Eb, Ab, Db |
Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of Ab Major — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Major | Ab Major |
| 2 | ii | Minor | Bb Minor |
| 3 | iii | Minor | C Minor |
| 4 | IV | Major | Db Major |
| 5 | V | Major | Eb Major |
| 6 | vi | Minor | F Minor |
| 7 | vii° | Diminished | G Diminished |
Related Keys
- Relative Minor
- F Minor — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Minor
- Ab Minor — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in Ab Major
Common scales built from the Ab tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in Bb major to sound Ab Major. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in F major to sound Ab Major. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around Bb and Eb transpositions.