A♭ minor key

Question 1

How many sharps or flats are in A♭ minor?

Accepted Answer

7: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭. They are written in that order at the start of every line of music.

Question 2

What are the chords in A♭ minor?

Accepted Answer

A♭m (i), B♭dim (ii°), C♭ (III), D♭m (iv), E♭m (v), F♭ (VI) and G♭ (VII).

Question 3

What is the relative major of A♭ minor?

Accepted Answer

C♭ major. It uses exactly the same notes and the same key signature, but treats C♭ as home.

Question 4

What is the dominant chord in A♭ minor?

Accepted Answer

In A♭ minor the fifth chord is E♭m (v). Most music raises the 7th note to make it major, so the dominant you usually hear is E♭ major (V).

Question 5

Is A♭ minor the same as G♯ minor?

Accepted Answer

They sound the same on the piano but are written differently. A♭ minor has 7 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭; composers pick whichever is easier to read.

A♭ minor key

Play the scale of this key

Chords in A♭ minor

Triads

Seventh chords

Questions