Ab Double Harmonic Major Scale
Notes in the Ab Double Harmonic Major Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G | 391.995 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | A | C |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | Db |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Eb | E |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | E | G |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ab | Ab | major |
| ♭2 | A | A | major |
| 3 | C | C minor | minor |
| 4 | Db | Db minor | minor |
| 5 | Eb | Eb (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | E | E augmented | augmented |
| 7 | G | G (complex) | other |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.
Ab Double Harmonic Major Scale in Practice
The Ab Double Harmonic Major 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 double harmonic major scale features two augmented second intervals, creating a dramatic, exotic sound. It is prominent in Arabic and Byzantine music and is also known as the Gypsy major or Arabic scale.
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 |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Ab Double Harmonic Major 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.