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A♭ aeolian dominant scale on guitar
A♭ aeolian dominant contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 6, fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ aeolian dominant scale on guitar?
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ on the low E string at fret 0 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 13 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 5 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 14 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4, the D string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 7 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 6 and the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
A♭ aeolian dominant in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ aeolian dominant is A♭ natural minor with a raised third: C instead of C♭. The scale keeps the minor seventh and the flattened sixth, so it carries the augmented fifth from A♭ to F♭. Compare A♭ natural minor to hear the one-note difference.
When to use it
A♭ aeolian dominant fits A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. Use it over B♭ minor 7th flat 5th or B♭ diminished for tension. The scale suits rock and fusion lines in A♭.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 4, and the shape covers frets 0–3.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ aeolian dominant?
A♭ aeolian dominant contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The scale has a major third and a minor seventh. It is the fifth mode of D♭ melodic minor. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does A♭ aeolian dominant fit?
A♭ aeolian dominant fits A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. It also works over B♭ minor 7th flat 5th and B♭ diminished. The scale adds an augmented fifth color to dominant sounds.
What is the difference between A♭ aeolian dominant and A♭ natural minor?
A♭ aeolian dominant raises the third degree from C♭ to C. This creates a major third instead of a minor third. The rest of the notes stay the same.