A♭ augmented uses A♭, B, C, E♭, E, G. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 4 for a low-position shape.
A♭ augmented uses A♭, B, C, E♭, E, G. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 4 for a low-position shape.
A♭ augmented derives from A♭ harmonic minor by raising the fourth degree, D♭, to D♮. The intervals are 1, ♯2, 3, 5, ♯5, 7, with step pattern 1½, H, 1½, H, 1½, H. Compare with A♭ harmonic minor to hear the raised fourth. The scale contains augmented triads A♭–C–E and C–E–G.
Use A♭ augmented over A♭ major or A♭ minor chords for a raised fifth. It fits A♭ major or A♭ minor. Also use over B augmented and E♭ augmented chords.
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 6, fret 4 gives a low anchor and prepares Box 2.
A♭ augmented in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 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 G string at fret 1.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 3 | E, G |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3 | B, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, E |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1 | B, C |
| 1 (e) | 0, 3 | E, G |
A♭ augmented in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. 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.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 7 | A♭, B |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7 | E♭, E |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6 | G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5 | B, C |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5 | E♭, E |
| 1 (e) | 4, 7 | A♭, B |
A♭ augmented in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 12 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the B string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8 | B, C |
| 5 (A) | 7, 10 | E, G |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10 | B, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9 | E♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9 | G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8 | B, C |
A♭ augmented in box 4 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12 | E♭, E |
| 5 (A) | 11, 14 | A♭, B |
| 4 (D) | 13, 14 | E♭, E |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 13 | B, C |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12 | E♭, E |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
The notes are A♭, B, C, E♭, E, G. It has six notes with intervals 1, ♯2, 3, 5, ♯5, 7. The scale is not heptatonic. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Play it over A♭ major or A♭ minor chords. The ♯5 adds tension. It also works over B augmented and E♭ augmented chords.
A♭ harmonic minor has a natural fourth, D♭. A♭ augmented raises that to D♮. This creates an augmented second between C and D.