A (A-flat; also called la bémol) is the ninth
semitone
A semitone, also called a minor second, half step, or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically.
It is defined as the interval between ...
of the
solfège
In music, solfège (British English or American English , ) or solfeggio (; ), also called sol-fa, solfa, solfeo, among many names, is a mnemonic used in teaching aural skills, Pitch (music), pitch and sight-reading of Western classical music, W ...
.
It lies a
diatonic semitone
A semitone, also called a minor second, half step, or a half tone, is the smallest interval (music), musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most Consonance and dissonance#Dissonance, dissonant when sounde ...
above
G and a
chromatic semitone
In modern Western tonal music theory an augmented unison or augmented prime is the interval between two notes on the same staff position, or denoted by the same note letter, whose alterations cause them, in ordinary equal temperament, to be one ...
below
A, thus being
enharmonic
In music, two written notes have enharmonic equivalence if they produce the same pitch but are notated differently. Similarly, written intervals, chords, or key signatures are considered enharmonic if they represent identical pitches that ar ...
to
G, even though in some
musical tuning
In music, there are two common meanings for tuning:
* #Tuning practice, Tuning practice, the act of tuning an instrument or voice.
* #Tuning systems, Tuning systems, the various systems of Pitch (music), pitches used to tune an instrument, and ...
s, A will have a different sounding pitch than G.
When calculated in
equal temperament
An equal temperament is a musical temperament or Musical tuning#Tuning systems, tuning system that approximates Just intonation, just intervals by dividing an octave (or other interval) into steps such that the ratio of the frequency, frequencie ...
with a reference of A above middle C as 440
Hz, the
frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. Frequency is an important parameter used in science and engineering to specify the rate of oscillatory and vibratory phenomena, such as mechanical vibrations, audio ...
of the A above middle C (or A
4) is approximately 415.305 Hz.
See
pitch (music)
Pitch is a perception, perceptual property that allows sounds to be ordered on a frequency-related scale (music), scale,
or more commonly, pitch is the quality that makes it possible to judge sounds as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associate ...
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
Scales
Common scales beginning on A
*
A major
A major is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor.
The A major scale is:
Changes needed for the ...
: 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
In Classical_music, Western classical music theory, the minor scale refers to three Scale (music), scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending).
...
ascending: A B C D E F G A
* A melodic minor descending: A G F E D C B A
Diatonic scale
In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale, heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by eith ...
s
* 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
Jazz melodic minor
* 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
See also
*
Piano key frequencies
This is a list of the fundamental frequencies in hertz (cycles per second) of the keys of a modern 88-key standard or 108-key extended piano in twelve-tone equal temperament, with the 49th key, the fifth A (called A4), tuned to 440 Hz (refe ...
*
A-flat major
A-flat major is a major scale based on A♭ (musical note), A, with the pitches A, B♭ (musical note), B, C (musical note), C, D♭ (musical note), D, E♭ (musical note), E, F (musical note), F, and G (musical note), G. Its key signature has fou ...
*
A-flat minor
A-flat minor is a minor scale based on A, consisting of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has seven flats. Its relative major is C-flat major (or enharmonically B major), its parallel major is A-flat major, and ...
*
Root (chord)
In the music theory of harmony, the root is a specific Note (music), note that names and typifies a given chord (music), chord. Chords are often spoken about in terms of their root, their Chord quality, quality, and their Chord extensions, exten ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:A-flat
Musical notes