Scale degrees · A♭ major
The ♭5 of A♭ is E𝄫
The ♭5 (flat five, written b5) of A♭ (A flat, Ab) is E𝄫 (E double flat): a diminished 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 diminished fifth is 6 semitones above A♭, and the E that is 6 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 halves the octave: a tritone above A♭. It is the 5th of the half-diminished and the diminished chord.
In A♭m7♭5:
A♭ · C♭ · E𝄫 · G♭
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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