STRINGSCALES

A♭ mystery #1 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ab mystery #1

The mystery #1 scale is a six note synthetic set: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, flat 5th, flat 6th, flat 7th. From the 3rd upward it walks in whole steps, so it behaves like a whole tone scale that has been given a dark flat 2nd doorstep. The name comes from scale catalogues rather than tradition; treat it as raw material for atmospheric, unresolved lines.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

B𝄫

bII

C

III

E𝄫

bV

F♭

bVI

G♭

bVII

mystery #1 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A whole tone scale with a dark doorstep: enter on b2 (A), then glide in whole steps from III to bVII (Gb).
  • Use it over a Ab7b9#5 vamp; the b2 (A) is the b9, the b6 (E) the #5 (E), and the whole tone upper half supplies the rest.
  • The name comes from scale catalogues, not tradition: treat it as raw material for atmosphere and sound design.
  • Alternate it with the plain whole tone scale to reveal the single half step; that contrast is its identity.

How to play A♭ mystery #1 on guitar

Closest root hides at fret 1 on the G string, so lines can start lower than the 5-flat spelling suggests. A capo at fret 1 hands the whole key to G fingering, which lets open-position habits carry over untouched. Open low E, A, D, and high E stay in the scale as Fb, Bbb, and Ebb. Both E strings also hold roots at fret 4.

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