A Flat Music Note: The Complete Guide to the Note and Key

By Jade Bultitude
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As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the A flat music note sits between G and A. Learn how to recognise A flat in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on A flat and listen to famous songs that feature A flat prominently in their melodies.

A Flat Note on The Staff

a flat music note in treble clef

Here is probably the most common A flat you’ll see. It sits on the second space of the treble clef and is the A flat above middle C.

Below are different A flats that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play A flat notes an octave higher or lower from the A flat above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite A flat notes to choose from!

a flat notes in treble and bass clef

Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to A flat. G sharp means one half-step above G, which is an A flat.

a flat enharmonic equivalent notes, g sharp

A Flat Note on the Piano and Keyboard

A flat sits between the G and A white keys on the keyboard. The black keys move in groups of two then three. The A flat note is the middle black key in each group of 3.

You might also remember it as black key just above the G natural key.

a flat notes on piano

A Flat Note Accidentals

We can add accidental signs to an A flat note and these are shown below. Remember that all these notes (with the exception of A flat natural) are not enharmonically equivalent to A flat.

a flat accidental notes

A Flat Music Notes in Different Clefs

Here are typical A flat notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different A flat notes, check out our post on octaves.

Treble Clef – A Flat

a flat music note in treble clef

The A flat above middle C (Ab4) sits on the second space of the treble clef.

Bass Clef – A Flat

a flat music note bass clef

The A flat below middle C (Ab3) sits on the top line of the bass clef.

Alto Clef – A Flat

a flat music note alto clef

The A flat below middle C (Ab3) sits on the second line of the alto clef.

Tenor Clef – A Flat

a flat music note tenor clef

The A flat music note below middle C (Ab3) sits on the third line of the tenor clef.

Mezzo-soprano Clef – A Flat

a flat music note mezzo soprano clef

The A flat music note above middle C (Ab4) sits on the fourth space of the mezzo-soprano clef.

Soprano Clef – A Flat

a flat music note soprano clef

The A flat above middle C (Ab4) sits on the third space of the soprano clef.

Baritone Clef – A Flat

a flat music note baritone clef

The A flat below middle C (Ab3) sits on the fourth line of the baritone clef.

Popular Scales starting on A Flat

A Flat Major

The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the A flat major scale.

a flat major scale

A Flat Natural Minor

The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the A flat natural minor scale.

A-Flat-Minor-Scale

A Flat Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.

A Flat Melodic Minor

When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.

When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.

Modes Starting on A Flat

Below are the modes that start on A flat.

a flat modes

Frequency of A Flat Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz. This means that the A flat above middle C would be approximately 415 Hz.

frequencies for equal temperament scale, g sharp highlighted

What’s Next…?

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AUTHOR
Jade is a flute player and music educator with a passion for educating the next generation of musicians. She is a Masters Graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Jade has been helping people learn music theory for more than 10 years from pre school children all the way to degree level studies.