Ab Blues Scale
Notes in the Ab Blues Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| ♯4 | Blue Note | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | Ab | B |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | Eb |
| 5 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | Eb | Gb |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab (complex) | other |
| ♭3 | B | B minor | minor |
| 4 | Db | Db (complex) | other |
| ♯4 | D | D (complex) | other |
| 5 | Eb | Eb (complex) | other |
| ♭7 | Gb | Gb (complex) | other |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Blues Scale in Practice
The Ab Blues Scale uses the key signature of 4 flats (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. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The blues scale adds the flat 5th (blue note) to the minor pentatonic scale, creating the characteristic dissonant tension central to blues, jazz, and rock music.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Blues Scale
Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.