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A♭ altered dominant double b3 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cbb, Dbb, Ebb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bbb, Cbb, Dbb, Ebb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: Ebb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cbb, Dbb, Ebb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: Ab, Bbb, Cbb, Dbb, Ebb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

B string: Dbb, Ebb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cbb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cbb, Dbb, Ebb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

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Ab altered dominant double b3

The altered dominant double b3 scale, the seventh mode of the neapolitan major scale, is the altered scale pushed one notch further: the sharp 9 is flattened again to a double-flat 3rd. Every degree from 2 to 7 is lowered, some twice. It is about as much tension as seven notes can carry, for altered dominants at the outer edge of jazz harmony.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

C𝄫7no5/Ab
B𝄫

bii

B𝄫m
C𝄫

bbIII+

C𝄫aug
D𝄫

bIV+

D𝄫aug
E𝄫

bV

E𝄫maj
F♭

bVI

F♭majb5
G♭

bvii°

G♭dim

Same notes, different mode

Ab altered dominant double b3 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

A neapolitan majorBb leading whole toneC lydian augmented dominantD lydian dominant b6Fb major locrianGb half-diminished b4

altered dominant double b3 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Every degree above the root is lowered, some twice: use Ab altered dominant double b3 (B) for one bar of maximum dominant tension, then resolve.
  • The double-flat 3rd (Bb) is enharmonically the 9th of the chord a half step down; voice-lead it there and the wildness turns logical.
  • Anchor on the tritone between the root and b5 (D); it is the only interval here the ear can hold onto.
  • As the seventh mode of neapolitan major, it shares its pitch set with the neapolitan major a half step above Ab.

How to play A♭ altered dominant double b3 on guitar

Closest root to the nut is on the G string, fret 1, so low phrases need almost no reach. Open A gives the minor second and open D the diminished fifth, which means two open strings can pedal under a fretted line. Capo the neck at fret 1 for G fingering throughout. Gb half-diminished b4 takes the same fingering, so the work transfers whole. From fret 8 you are into the second box.

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