Explore scales · Guitar
A♭ bebop dominant scale on guitar
A♭ bebop dominant contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, F♯, and G. Practise Box 1 first to keep the root on string 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the A♭ bebop dominant scale on guitar?
A♭ bebop dominant in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 19 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4, the G string at fret 1 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ bebop dominant in box 2 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 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | E♭, F, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ bebop dominant in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 17 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, 8, 9 | E♭, F, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ bebop dominant in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 19 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) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ bebop dominant in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ 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 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ bebop dominant adds a passing F♯ to A♭ major. The added note is a minor 7th above A♭, while G is the major 7th. This creates a chromatic step between F, F♯, and G. The scale has a tritone and a leading tone.
When to use it
Use A♭ bebop dominant over A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. It fits dominant progressions in D♭ major and works for swing, bebop, and jazz-blues lines.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 4 and covers frets 1–4, which sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ bebop dominant?
A♭ bebop dominant contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, F♯, and G. The added F♯ is the chromatic passing tone between F and G. It is the ♯6 degree. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does A♭ bebop dominant fit?
A♭ bebop dominant fits A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. It also works over dominant progressions in D♭ major. Use it for jazz and swing lines.
What is the enharmonic spelling of A♭?
The notes sound the same but are written differently. Use A♭ when the key signature has flats.