A# Minor

A# minor is the relative minor key to C# major. Both have 7 sharps in the key signature.

A# minor key signature

Here are the A# harmonic minor scales:

A# minor harmonic

And the A# melodic minor scales:

A# minor melodic

A# sharp minor seems complicated on the surface, but it works in the same way as A minor, with every note of the scale raised by a semitone. G# in the scale of A minor becomes G## in A# minor, and in the melodic ascending scale, F# becomes F##.

There is virtually no music written in the key of A# minor (since the enharmonic equivalent key of Bb minor is much simpler).

However, Christian Rinck (1770-1846) included an Exercise in A# minor in his Organ tutor book (op.55 no.1). This is how it begins (the lowest stave is played on the organ’s foot pedals). (The D## is a chromatic note and not part of the key).

Rinck Exercise in A# minor

A Flat Minor

Ab minor is the relative minor to Cb major. Both keys use seven flats in the key signature.

Ab minor key signature

Here are the Ab harmonic minor scales:

Ab minor harmonic

And the Ab melodic minor scales:

Ab minor melodic

Ab minor works like A minor, but with every step of the scale lowered by a semitone.

Like A# minor, the key of Ab minor is hardly ever used, but it does exist; for example in Isaac Albéniz’s “Evocación” from his Iberia Suite.

Albeniz Evocacion Ab minor

You might also encounter it as a modulation key within a piece of music that begins in a different key.