STRINGSCALES

A six tone symmetric Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E#, F#, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10

A string: A, Bb, C#, D, E#, F#, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12

D string: D, E#, F#, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 0, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12

G string: A, Bb, C#, D, E#, F# at frets 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11

B string: C#, D, E#, F#, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11

High E string: E#, F#, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10

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A six tone symmetric

The six tone symmetric scale alternates half step and minor 3rd: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, 4th, sharp 5th, 6th. It is the same interlocking-augmented-triads idea as the augmented scale, started from the other side of the pattern. Its symmetry repeats every major 3rd, giving you instant sequences and a sound that sits between augmented and octatonic.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B♭

bII

C♯

III

D

IV

E♯

#V

F♯

VI

Same notes, different mode

A six tone symmetric 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 augmentedD augmentedF# augmented

six tone symmetric in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Alternate half step and minor 3rd from A and the pattern closes at the octave; learn it as that two-interval cell, not as scattered notes.
  • It repeats every major 3rd: one fingering, transposed twice, covers all keys before recurring.
  • Arpeggiate the two augmented triads hiding inside it (root, III, #V-as-b6 and b2 (Bb), IV, VI) for instant symmetrical lines.
  • Slide the half-step pairs (root-b2, III-IV, #V-VI) as ornaments; between them the minor 3rd leaps keep lines angular.

How to play A six tone symmetric on guitar

Open A is the root and open D the perfect fourth, so a two-string pedal costs nothing. Lowest root is fret 5 on the low E string, giving an e-shape barre in the fifth position. That box ends at fret 9. Db and F six tone symmetric share the identical note set, one four semitones up and one eight, which lets a single shape cover three tonics. Three sharps in the signature.

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