STRINGSCALES

A♭ major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

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Ab major

The major scale is the reference point of Western harmony: seven notes in the familiar whole and half step pattern, with a leading tone that pulls firmly back to the root. Chords, key signatures and all seven modes are measured against it. It resolves so naturally that it carries most pop, folk, classical and country writing, and learning it across the whole fretboard gives you the map every other scale on this site is drawn on.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

A♭maj
B♭

ii

B♭m
C

iii

Cm
D♭

IV

D♭maj
E♭

V

E♭maj
F

vi

Fm
G

vii°

Gdim

Same notes, different mode

Ab major 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 dorianC phrygianDb lydianEb mixolydianF minor · relative minorG locrian

major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Map the Ab major scale through all five CAGED positions, then practice moving between neighboring positions along one string so the whole neck connects.
  • Over a I-IV-V progression in Ab, land chord tones on the downbeats: root, 3rd (C) and 5th (Eb) of whichever chord is sounding.
  • The scale's pull comes from its half steps: resolve the leading tone (G) up to Ab and the 4th (Db) down to the 3rd (C) to make phrases sound finished.
  • Harmonize the scale in diatonic 3rds and 6ths on adjacent string pairs; it is instant melodic rhythm-guitar vocabulary in Ab.

How to play A♭ major on guitar

One fret of capo converts Ab major into G shapes, which lets open-position playing survive in a four-flat key. Without the capo, the single open string available is G, sitting a major seventh from the root, so fretted work dominates everywhere. Roots for barres land at fret 4 for the E-shape and fret 11 for the A-shape. F minor holds the relative slot. Position work out of the root box ends at fret 8, so plan the first shift there.

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