Likewise, the second movement (in A-flat major) of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. In the recapitulation, the key for this passage is changed to bring the second subject back in A-flat major: the transitional passage appears in a key that would theoretically be F-flat major, but which is notated in E major, presumably because Beethoven judged this easier to read – this key being a major third below the key of the earlier appearance of this passage.

In the first movement's exposition, the transitional passage between the first and second subjects consists of arpeggiated figuration beginning in A-flat major and modulating to the dominant key of E-flat major. īeethoven also used F-flat major in his Piano Sonata No. Part of Richard Strauss' Metamorphosen uses F-flat major, which one commentator has called 'a bitter enharmonic parody' of the earlier manifestations of E major in the piece. Because of that, it is usually enharmonic to E major with 4 sharps.Īlthough F-flat major is usually notated as its enharmonic equivalent of E major, because E major has four sharps only as opposed to F-flat major's eight flats (including the B ), F-flat major appears as a secondary key area in several works in flat keys. Its relative minor is D-flat minor, usually replaced by C-sharp minor (see reason below) and its parallel minor is F-flat minor, which is normally replaced by E minor, since F-flat minor's four double-flats make it generally impractical to use. Audio playback is not supported in your browser.

C flat major key signature