Interactive piano keyboard showing Ab Blues scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
The A♭ blues scale (A♭, C♭, D♭, D, E♭, G♭) is a jazz and R&B staple with a dark, sophisticated character. The blue note D adds chromatic expression between C♭ and D♭ for smooth, soulful lines. A♭ blues appears in jazz standards, soul, and cinematic music.
Adding the flat 5th (the “blue note”) to minor pentatonic creates the characteristic tension-and-release of blues improvisation. This tritone is the single interval that gives the blues scale its soulful, crying quality.
The diatonic chords in Ab Blues are: Abm, Bm, Dbm, D, Ebm, Gbaug. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Blues?
The A♭ blues scale (A♭, C♭, D♭, D, E♭, G♭) is a jazz and R&B staple with a dark, sophisticated character. The blue note D adds chromatic expression between C♭ and D♭ for smooth, soulful lines. A♭ blues appears in jazz standards, soul, and cinematic music.
What notes are in the Ab Blues?
The Ab Blues contains the notes: Ab, Cb, Db, D, Eb, Gb. This is a 6-note scale starting from Ab.
How many chords does the Ab Blues have?
The Ab Blues produces 6 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Abm, Bm, Dbm, D, Ebm, Gbaug.
What is the formula for the Blues?
The Blues follows the interval formula: W+H-W-H-H-W+H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Page detail levelSimple keeps pages short: extra theory and advanced controls stay tucked away until you open them. Everything shows every section and control at once.
Position in circle of fifths
Ab is at the 8 o'clock position. Related keys: Eb (dominant), C# (subdominant), F (relative minor), Bb (supertonic), F# (subtonic).