A-flat (Ab) Minor Scale on flute has its tonic on A-flat natural. It also has the pitches A-flat, B-flat, C-flat, D-flat, E-flat, F-flat, and G-flat. The key signature of this scale has seven flats. The A-flat minor scale is relative to C-flat major scale, parallel to the A-flat major scale, dominant to the E-flat minor scale, and subdominant to the D-flat minor scale.
There are three different A-flat minor scales for flute:
- A-flat natural minor
- A-flat harmonic minor
- A-flat melodic minor
Click here to see the fingering chart for A-flat minor notes.
How to play the A-flat (Ab) natural minor scale and arpeggio on the flute
If you would like to play the A-flat natural minor scale on the flute correctly, you can use the two-octave scale chart below to know what notes to flatten or sharpen.
A-flat (Ab) harmonic minor scale and arpeggio on flute
The A-flat harmonic minor scale on the flute has a sharpened seventh note, which is called G natural. This alteration creates a distinct sound and distinguishes it from the A-flat natural minor scale. When playing the A-flat harmonic minor scale, flutists need to be mindful of this raised seventh note, which requires a different fingering and technique compared to the A-flat natural minor and melodic minor scales. Below is a two-octave scale chart and arpeggio for A-flat harmonic minor on flute.
A-flat melodic minor scale and arpeggio on flute (ascending and descending)
The A-flat melodic minor scale on the flute differs from the A-flat natural minor scale because it has the sixth and seventh notes, F-flat and G-flat, respectively, sharpened when ascending and flattened when descending. This creates a unique sound that distinguishes it from both the A-flat harmonic minor and A-flat natural minor scales. When playing the A-flat melodic minor scale, flutists need to be aware of the raised sixth and seventh notes, which require different fingerings and techniques than the A-flat major scale. Below is a two-octave scale chart and arpeggio for A-flat melodic minor on flute.
