Explore scales · Bass
A♭ aeolian dominant scale on bass guitar
A♭ aeolian dominant uses A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 4 for a low start.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ aeolian dominant scale on bass?
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4 and the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
Raise the third of A♭ natural minor to C and you get A♭ aeolian dominant. The pattern is W, W, H, W, H, W, W. Compare it with A♭ natural minor to hear the major third against the minor sixth.
When to use it
Use A♭ aeolian dominant over A♭ major or A♭ 5th chords when the progression has a ♭6 colour. It suits klezmer, fusion, and metal riffs. Try it over A♭ major or A♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. The root sits under your first finger on string 4, fret 4, and the range covers frets 0–3 for easy access.
Common questions
Which notes are in A♭ aeolian dominant?
The notes are A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The intervals are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. The scale has a major third and a minor sixth. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords fit A♭ aeolian dominant?
The tonic chord is A♭ major or A♭ 5th. Other chords include B♭ minor 7th flat 5th, C 7th flat 5th, D♭ minor, E♭ minor, F♭ augmented, and G♭ major. Use the scale over these chords in A♭.
How does A♭ aeolian dominant differ from A♭ natural minor?
A♭ aeolian dominant has a major third (C) instead of the minor third (C♭) in A♭ natural minor. The rest of the notes are the same. This change creates a dominant seventh sound on the tonic.