A flat major pentatonic scale on piano
The A flat major pentatonic scale on piano has 5 notes: A flat, B flat, C, E flat, and F (A♭, B♭, C, E♭, F). It uses 3 black keys: A♭, B♭, E♭.
- A♭ A flat 1
- B♭ B flat 2
- C 3
- E♭ E flat 5
- F 6
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (A♭) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear the note; "Play" goes up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering for the A flat major pentatonic scale
This scale has no single fingering in piano method books. A rule that works: never put the thumb on a black key, and pass the thumb right after a black key. Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger.
Formula
- A♭
- W
- B♭
- W
- C
- 1½W
- E♭
- W
- F
- 1½W
- A♭
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6. Steps: W – W – 1½W – W – 1½W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the major pentatonic scale
Five notes and no half steps: it is almost impossible to sound "wrong". Common in country, rock and pop.
Scales with the same notes
Relative minor: F minor pentatonic scale . Same notes, different center.
More A flat scales
- Major
- Natural minor (G♯)
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic (G♯)
- Blues (G♯)
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian (G♯)
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian (G♯)
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant (G♯)
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half) (G♯)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Major pentatonic in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A flat major pentatonic scale?
The notes of the A flat major pentatonic scale are A flat, B flat, C, E flat, and F. It uses 3 black keys: A♭, B♭, E♭.
What is the formula of the A flat major pentatonic scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6. In steps between notes: W – W – 1½W – W – 1½W (W = whole step, H = half step).