STRINGSCALES

A♭ diminished Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: Bb, Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

D string: Ebb, Fb, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Ebb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

High E string: Fb, F, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

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Ab diminished

The diminished scale (the whole-half diminished scale) alternates whole and half steps through eight notes. It serves fully diminished 7th chords, and its minor-3rd symmetry means fingerings repeat every three frets: learn one octave and you own the neck. Jazz and classical writing both exploit its ability to spiral tension upward before resolving.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

B♭

II

C♭

bIII

D♭

IV

E𝄫

bV

F♭

bVI

F

VI

G

VII

Same notes, different mode

Ab diminished 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.

Bb half-whole diminishedDb half-whole diminishedFb half-whole diminishedG half-whole diminished

diminished in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • This is the whole-half diminished scale: run it over a fully diminished 7th chord in Ab, whose four chord tones sit right inside it.
  • Every pattern repeats a minor 3rd (B) up; learn one octave of Ab fingering and transpose it in three-fret jumps.
  • Alternate a diminished 7th arpeggio with scale steps for the classic spiraling tension line.
  • Do not confuse it with the half-whole scale: whole-half fits the diminished chord itself, half-whole fits dominant 7b9 chords.

How to play A♭ diminished on guitar

Five open strings live inside this key, open G at the major seventh with open B on a minor third, so drones are available in open position despite 6 flats. G string root at fret 1 is the nearest to the nut, which lets a phrase start with one finger down. Capo at fret 1 makes this G fingering. B diminished 3 frets up shares the fingering, so shapes move in minor thirds. Second box starts at fret 8.

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