How to form diatonic chords of A flat minor scale?
A Flat Minor Scale
A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ are the notes of the A flat minor scale.
Diatonic chords are formed by stacking two generic third notes above each scale note.
A Flat Minor Diatonic Chords
These are the seven minor scale diatonic chords that come from the A flat minor scale.
Each diatonic chord is labelled with a roman numeral number.
All natural minor scales follow the same pattern:
i, iiº, III, iv, v, VI, VII
We use uppercase roman numeral numbers to represent major chords, lowercase to represent minor chords, uppercase with a small plus sign to represent augmented chords, and lowercase with a small circle to represent diminished chords.
First, fourth and fifth chords in natural minor will always be minor. Third, sixth and seventh chords in natural minor scale will always be major. Second chord in natural minor scale will always be diminished.
The seven diatonic chords in the A flat minor key are:
i. A♭ – C♭- E♭ (A Flat minor chord)
iiº. B♭ – D♭ – F♭ (B Flat diminished chord)
III. C♭ – E♭ – G♭ (C Flat major chord)
iv. D♭ – F♭ – A♭ (D Flat minor chord) *Notice that D♭ and C♯ are enharmonic equivalents. C Sharp minor chord is the same as D Flat minor chord.
v. E♭ – G♭ – B♭ (E Flat minor chord)
VI. F♭ – A♭ – C♭ (F Flat major chord) *Notice that F♭ and E are enharmonic equivalents. E major chord is the same as F Flat major chord.
VII. G♭ – B♭ – D♭(G Flat major chord)
These are the harmonic chords that are diatonic to the A flat minor scale.
Piano Music Theory 