A♭ (musical note)
A♭ (A-flat; also called la bémol) is the ninth semitone of the solfège.
It lies a diatonic semitone above G and a chromatic semitone below A, thus being enharmonic to G♯, even though in some musical tunings, A♭ will have a different sounding pitch than G♯.
When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the A♭ above middle C (or A♭4) is approximately 415.305 Hz.[1] See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.
The notes A♭ and G♯ are the only notes to have only one enharmonic, since they cannot be reached in any other way by a single or double sharp or a single or double flat from any of the seven white notes.
Designation by octave
| Scientific designation | Helmholtz designation | Octave name | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI note number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A♭−1 | A♭͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵A♭ or AAAA♭ | Octocontra | 12.978 | 8 |
| A♭0 | A♭͵͵ or ͵͵A♭ or AAA♭ | Subcontra | 25.957 | 20 |
| A♭1 | A♭͵ or ͵A♭ or AA♭ | Contra | 51.913 | 32 |
| A♭2 | A♭ | Great | 103.826 | 44 |
| A♭3 | a♭ | Small | 207.652 | 56 |
| A♭4 | a♭′ | One-lined | 415.305 | 68 |
| A♭5 | a♭′′ | Two-lined | 830.609 | 80 |
| A♭6 | a♭′′′ | Three-lined | 1661.219 | 92 |
| A♭7 | a♭′′′′ | Four-lined | 3322.438 | 104 |
| A♭8 | a♭′′′′′ | Five-lined | 6644.875 | 116 |
| A♭9 | a♭′′′′′′ | Six-lined | 13289.75 | N/A |
| A♭10 | a♭′′′′′′′ | Seven-lined | 26579.501 | N/A |
Scales
Common scales beginning on A♭
- A♭ major: A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A♭
- A♭ natural minor: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭
- A♭ harmonic minor: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G A♭
- A♭ melodic minor ascending: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G A♭
- A♭ melodic minor descending: A♭ G♭ F♭ E♭ D♭ C♭ B♭ A♭
- A♭ Ionian: A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G A♭
- A♭ Dorian: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭
- A♭ Phrygian: A♭ B
C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ - A♭ Lydian: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭
- A♭ Mixolydian: A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭
- A♭ Aeolian: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭
- A♭ Locrian: A♭ B C♭ D♭ E F♭ G♭ A♭
- A♭ ascending melodic minor: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G A♭
- A♭ Dorian ♭2: A♭ B C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭
- A♭ Lydian augmented: A♭ B♭ C D E F G A♭
- A♭ Lydian dominant: A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G♭ A♭
- A♭ Mixolydian ♭6: A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭
- A♭ Locrian ♮2: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E F♭ G♭ A♭
- A♭ altered: A♭ B C♭ D E F♭ G♭ A♭
References
- ^ Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 5 February 2024.