STRINGSCALES

A♭ ionian major #2 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

A string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

High E string: F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

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Ab ionian major #2

The ionian #2 scale, the sixth mode of the neapolitan minor scale, is a major scale whose 2nd is raised to a sharp 2nd, creating an augmented 2nd leap right at the start. The rest is textbook major, so melodies keep snapping between exotic and plain. It is a striking way to make a familiar major progression sound foreign.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

A♭maj
B

#II

D♭7no5/B
C

iii

Cm
D♭

IV

D♭maj
E♭

V+

E♭aug
F

vi

Fm
G

VII

Gmaj♭5

Same notes, different mode

Ab ionian major #2 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.

B ultralocrianC neapolitan minorDb lydian #6Eb mixolydian augmentedF romani minorG locrian dominant

ionian major #2 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play Ab major but leap from the root straight to #2 (B) and settle on the 3rd; one displaced note makes familiar lines sound foreign.
  • Use the #2 (B) as a chromatic ornament to the 3rd (C) in an otherwise textbook major solo; ration it and it stays striking.
  • It is the sixth mode of neapolitan minor, sharing its notes with the neapolitan minor a major 3rd below Ab.
  • Over a plain major triad, alternate phrases from Ab major and Ab ionian #2 (B) to make one chord feel like two worlds.

How to play A♭ ionian major #2 on guitar

Open G and open B are the only strings in the key, one as the seventh and one as the augmented second, giving two colour tones but no working pedal. Fret 1 on the G string holds the root closest to the nut, so first-position work has an anchor even with the low E root up at fret 4. Fm is the vi chord, matched at fret 11 by a root on the A string. Capo at fret 1 borrows the G fingerings.

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