A acoustic scale on guitar

A acoustic uses A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G. Box 1 keeps the raised fourth and flat seventh under your fingers.

Positions on the neck1 of 6

How it is built

A1B2C♯3D♯♯4E5F♯6G♭7

Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7

How do you play the A acoustic scale on guitar?

A acoustic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	0, 2, 3	E, F♯, G
5 (A)	0, 2	A, B
4 (D)	1, 2	D♯, E
3 (G)	0, 2	G, A
2 (B)	0, 2	B, C♯
1 (e)	0, 2, 3	E, F♯, G

Box 2 · frets 2–5

A acoustic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	2, 3, 5	F♯, G, A
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	2, 4, 5	E, F♯, G
3 (G)	2, 4	A, B
2 (B)	2, 4, 5	C♯, D♯, E
1 (e)	2, 3, 5	F♯, G, A

Box 3 · frets 5–8

A acoustic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 13 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	5, 7	A, B
5 (A)	6, 7	D♯, E
4 (D)	5, 7	G, A
3 (G)	6, 8	C♯, D♯
2 (B)	5, 7, 8	E, F♯, G
1 (e)	5, 7	A, B

Box 4 · frets 7–10

A acoustic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	7, 9	B, C♯
5 (A)	7, 9, 10	E, F♯, G
4 (D)	7, 9	A, B
3 (G)	8, 9	D♯, E
2 (B)	7, 8, 10	F♯, G, A
1 (e)	7, 9	B, C♯

Box 5 · frets 9–12

A acoustic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E
5 (A)	9, 10, 12	F♯, G, A
4 (D)	9, 11	B, C♯
3 (G)	9, 11, 12	E, F♯, G
2 (B)	10, 12	A, B
1 (e)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E

Box 6 · frets 11–14

A acoustic in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 14.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯
5 (A)	12, 14	A, B
4 (D)	11, 13, 14	C♯, D♯, E
3 (G)	11, 12, 14	F♯, G, A
2 (B)	12, 14	B, C♯
1 (e)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯

Why it sounds like that

A acoustic raises the fourth of A mixolydian from D to D♯. The scale is built 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7. This creates a Lydian Dominant sound, also called Overtone or Lydian ♭7. Compare it with A mixolydian to hear the altered fourth.

When to use it

Use A acoustic over A7, A major, or A 5th chords in rock, fusion, and jazz. The ♯4 adds tension over dominant chords. Try it over A major or A 5th progressions.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on the sixth string and covers frets 0–3 for quick access to the ♯4.

Common questions

What notes are in A acoustic?

A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G. The raised fourth is D♯ and the flat seventh is G.

Which chords fit A acoustic?

A7, A major, and A 5th work well. The scale also fits over B major and E minor in progressions.

How is A acoustic different from A mixolydian?

A acoustic has a D♯ instead of D. That raised fourth creates the Lydian Dominant sound.