Scale degrees · A♭ major
The 5 of A♭ is E♭
The 5 (five) of A♭ (A flat, Ab) is E♭ (E flat): a perfect fifth above the root.
A♭ — the root, 1E♭ — the 5
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: A, B, C, D, E. A 5th lands on E.
Then the sound: a perfect fifth is 7 semitones above A♭, and the E that is 7 semitones up is E♭.
That is why it is E♭ and not D♯: D♯ is the same key on the piano, but from A♭ it would be a 4th, not a 5th.
Where you meet it
The 5 is the most stable note after the root; a power chord is just the two of them.
In A♭5:
A♭ · E♭
The 5 in every key
| Key | The 5 |
|---|---|
| C | G |
| G | D |
| D | A |
| A | E |
| E | B |
| B | F♯ |
| F♯ | C♯ |
| D♭ | A♭ |
| A♭ | E♭ |
| E♭ | B♭ |
| B♭ | F |
| F | C |
Every degree of A♭
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