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A♭ bebop major scale on guitar
A♭ bebop major adds F♭ between E♭ and F to A♭ major, giving A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, F, G. Box 3 keeps the root on string 4, fret 6 for upper-neck lines.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the A♭ bebop major scale on guitar?
A♭ bebop major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ 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.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | F♭, F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2, 3 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 3 | F♭, F, G |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ bebop major 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, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6 | G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ bebop major 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, 7, 8 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ bebop major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 18 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, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 10 | 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 major 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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 13 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13 | E♭, F♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ bebop major is A♭ major with an added ♭6, F♭. The extra note creates a chromatic run from E♭ through F♭ and F to G. This scale contains a tritone and a leading tone, so it resolves strongly to A♭ major chords.
When to use it
Use A♭ bebop major over A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords in jazz and swing. The added F♭ works as a passing tone between E♭ and F. It fits bebop heads and ii–V–I progressions in A♭ major.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 3 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 6, and the shape covers frets 6–9 for quick position shifts.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ bebop major?
A♭ bebop major contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, F, and G. The scale adds a ♭6 to the A♭ major scale. This creates an eight-note scale used for bebop lines. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ bebop major?
A♭ bebop major fits A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. The added F♭ is a passing tone, so it works over major and dominant sounds. Avoid holding F♭ over the chord.
How does A♭ bebop major differ from A♭ major?
A♭ bebop major adds F♭ between E♭ and F. This creates a chromatic run from E♭ through F♭ and F to G. The added note is a passing tone, not a chord tone.