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A♭ leading whole tone Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: Bb, C, D, E, F#, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

D string: D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: C, D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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Ab leading whole tone

The leading whole tone scale, the second mode of the neapolitan major scale, is a whole tone scale with a major 7th bolted on. Five whole steps float exactly as expected, then the leading tone suddenly offers a way home. That built-in escape hatch makes it more usable than the pure whole tone scale in tonal contexts.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I+

A♭aug
B♭

II+

B♭aug
C

III

Cmaj
D

#IV

Dmaj♭5
E

#v°

Edim
F♯

#VI

A♭7no5/F#
G

vii

Gm

Same notes, different mode

Ab leading whole tone 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 lydian augmented dominantC lydian dominant b6D major locrianE half-diminished b4F# altered dominant double b3G neapolitan major

leading whole tone in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Float through the whole tone bottom (root to #V (E) in whole steps), then use the major 7th (G) as the escape hatch to the root.
  • Over an augmented chord resolving to a major chord, this scale scripts the resolution: dreamy first, decisive at the end.
  • Delay the VII: the longer the whole tone blur lasts, the stronger the leading tone lands.
  • It is the second mode of neapolitan major; the same notes a whole step below Ab give the neapolitan major scale.

How to play A♭ leading whole tone on guitar

Fret 1 on the G string sits closest to the nut of any root, so a first-position phrase can resolve without leaving the open strings behind. Open low E, D, G and high E all belong: a major seventh on the G string, an augmented fourth on the D, augmented fifths on the outer pair. Lowest root is fret 4 on the low E, which puts the E-shape barre right there too. Everything from fret 8 is a new position.

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