Scale degrees · A♭ major

The ♯5 of A♭ is E

The ♯5 (sharp five, written #5) of A♭ (A flat, Ab) is E: an augmented 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: an augmented fifth is 8 semitones above A♭, which is exactly where E is — no sharp or flat needed.

Where you meet it

The ♯5 is the 5th of the augmented chord. Over a dominant the same key on the piano is usually written ♭13.

In A♭+:

A♭ · C · E

The ♯5 in every key

KeyThe ♯5
CG♯
GD♯
DA♯
AE♯
EB♯
BF𝄪
F♯C𝄪
D♭A
A♭E
E♭B
B♭F♯
FC♯

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