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A♭ blues major scale on guitar
A♭ blues major contains A♭, B♭, C♭, C, E♭, and F. Its root on string 6, fret 4 makes Box 1 a compact four-fret shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the A♭ blues major scale on guitar?
A♭ blues major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 14 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, 4 | F, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 3 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 4 | C, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 4 | F, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ blues major 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 C♭ 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.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6 | E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6 | A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5 | C♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ blues major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. 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, 7, 8 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8 | E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 9 | F, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8 | B♭, C♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ blues major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 13 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, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 11 | F, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 9, 10 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ blues major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 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, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 13 | E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 13 | A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ blues major adds C♭ to A♭ major pentatonic, producing a minor 3rd against A♭ and a minor 2nd against B♭. The major 3rd C remains, so C♭ and C clash a semitone apart. C♭ and F form a diminished 5th, the scale's only tritone.
When to use it
A♭ blues major fits A♭ major and A♭ minor chords, covering both thirds. It also works over B♭ 5th and E♭ 5th for open-string rock lines. Use it in A♭ blues and country-rock fills.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. The root sits on string 6, fret 4, and the pattern covers frets 1–4.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ blues major?
A♭ blues major contains A♭, B♭, C♭, C, E♭, and F. The scale has both a minor and major 3rd. It is a six-note blues scale. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ blues major?
A♭ blues major fits A♭ major and A♭ minor chords. It also works over B♭ 5th and E♭ 5th. The scale contains the chord tones of those harmonies.
How does A♭ blues major differ from A♭ major pentatonic?
A♭ blues major adds C♭ to A♭ major pentatonic. The added note creates a minor 3rd against A♭ and a minor 2nd against B♭. This gives the scale its blues colour.