Scale degrees · A♭ major
The 4 of A♭ is D♭
The 4 (four) of A♭ (A flat, Ab) is D♭ (D flat): a perfect fourth above the root.
A♭ — the root, 1D♭ — the 4
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: A, B, C, D. A 4th lands on D.
Then the sound: a perfect fourth is 5 semitones above A♭, and the D that is 5 semitones up is D♭.
That is why it is D♭ and not C♯: C♯ is the same key on the piano, but from A♭ it would be a 3rd, not a 4th.
Where you meet it
The 4 sits a half step above the major 3rd. In a sus chord it takes the 3rd's place; an octave up it is the 11.
In A♭sus4:
A♭ · D♭ · E♭
The 4 in every key
| Key | The 4 |
|---|---|
| C | F |
| G | C |
| D | G |
| A | D |
| E | A |
| B | E |
| F♯ | B |
| D♭ | G♭ |
| A♭ | D♭ |
| E♭ | A♭ |
| B♭ | E♭ |
| F | B♭ |
Every degree of A♭
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