Key

The key of A♭ major · 4 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭

Major keys sound bright and settled. The I, IV and V chords do most of the work; the minor ii, iii and vi add color.

Relative minor: F minor — the same notes and key signature. Scale: A♭ major scale.

Notes in the key

A♭B♭CD♭E♭FG

Chords in A♭ major

One chord on each note of the scale. Roman numerals show each chord’s position — uppercase for major, lowercase for minor.

Left-handed

I A♭

A♭ C E♭

ii B♭m

B♭ D♭ F

iii Cm

C E♭ G

IV D♭

D♭ F A♭

V E♭

E♭ G B♭

vi Fm

F A♭ C

vii° Gdim

G B♭ D♭

Common progressions in A♭ major

The pop progression I–V–vi–IV A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭ Three-chord rock I–IV–V–IV A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – D♭ The ’50s progression I–vi–IV–V A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭ The minor-feel pop progression vi–IV–I–V Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ The 12-bar blues 12-bar blues A♭7 – D♭7 – E♭7 The jazz cadence ii–V–I B♭m7 – E♭7 – A♭maj7 The turnaround I–vi–ii–V A♭ – Fm – B♭m – E♭ Pachelbel’s Canon I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V A♭ – E♭ – Fm – Cm – D♭ – A♭ – D♭ – E♭ The Mixolydian rock progression I–♭VII–IV–I A♭ – G♭ – D♭ – A♭

Circle of fifths

Each step clockwise adds a sharp (or removes a flat). Neighbors on the circle share all but one note, so A♭ major’s closest keys are right next to it — and its relative minor sits on the inner ring. Click any key to open it.