The ♭6 of A♭ is F♭
The ♭6 (flat six, written b6) of A♭ (A flat, Ab) is F♭ (F flat): a minor sixth above the root.
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: A, B, C, D, E, F. A 6th lands on F.
Then the sound: a minor sixth is 8 semitones above A♭, and the F that is 8 semitones up is F♭.
That is why it is F♭ and not E: E is the same key on the piano, but from A♭ it would be a 5th, not a 6th.
Where you meet it
The ♭6 is the 6th of the natural minor scale, and the root of ♭VI, a chord major keys often borrow from their minor.
In the scale A♭ Aeolian (natural minor):
A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F♭ · G♭
The ♭6 in every key
| Key | The ♭6 |
|---|---|
| C | A♭ |
| G | E♭ |
| D | B♭ |
| A | F |
| E | C |
| B | G |
| F♯ | D |
| D♭ | B𝄫 |
| A♭ | F♭ |
| E♭ | C♭ |
| B♭ | G♭ |
| F | D♭ |
Every degree of A♭
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