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A flat six pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, A, B, C#, E at frets 0, 1, 5, 7, 9, 12

A string: A, B, C#, E, F, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12

D string: E, F, A, B, C# at frets 2, 3, 7, 9, 11

G string: A, B, C#, E, F at frets 2, 4, 6, 9, 10

B string: B, C#, E, F, A, B at frets 0, 2, 5, 6, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, A, B, C#, E at frets 0, 1, 5, 7, 9, 12

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A flat six pentatonic

The flat six pentatonic is a major pentatonic with its 6th pushed down a half step: root, 2nd, major 3rd, 5th, flat 6th. The b6 leaning against the 5th injects harmonic-major darkness into an otherwise sunny scale, a striking effect over a plain major triad. It suits players hunting for major-key lines that avoid the obvious.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

C♯

III

E

V

F

bVI

Same notes, different mode

A flat six pentatonic 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.

F lydian #5P pentatonic

flat six pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Major pentatonic with its 6th pushed to b6 (F): sunny lines that suddenly sigh; place the b6 (F) to V fall at phrase ends.
  • Over a plain major triad on A, the b6 (F) borrows harmonic-major darkness without leaving pentatonic fingering.
  • Keep the b6 (F) off strong beats under a major chord... as a passing shadow it is striking, sustained it argues with the 6th-less chord.
  • Pair phrases: one from the normal major pentatonic, the answer from this scale; the single changed note becomes the story.

How to play A flat six pentatonic on guitar

Open A is a root and both E strings sound the fifth, meaning 4 of the 6 open strings already belong here. That open A is a unison with the low E at fret 5, so the real lowest root stays on the bottom string. Open B adds the 2nd, and fretted roots fill in at 2 on the G, 7 on the D and 10 on the B. A-shape barre sits at 12, the octave.

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