Explore scales · Guitar
A♭ chromatic scale on guitar
A♭ chromatic uses A♭, A, B♭, B, C, D♭, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G. Box 1 starts on string 6, fret 4 and spans frets 0–3.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♯1, 2, ♯2, 3, 4, ♯4, 5, ♯5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the A♭ chromatic scale on guitar?
A♭ chromatic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 24 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.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | A, B♭, B, C |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G, A♭, A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | B, C, D♭, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, F, F♯, G |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ chromatic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 24 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. 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, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, A♭, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | B, C, D♭, D |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | A, B♭, B, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | D♭, D, E♭, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, A♭, A |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 24 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.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | D♭, D, E♭, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, G, A♭, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | B, C, D♭, D |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
A♭ chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 24 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, 7, 8, 9 | B♭, B, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | D♭, D, E♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | B♭, B, C, D♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
A♭ chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 24 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, 10, 11 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | B♭, B, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | G, A♭, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
Box 6 · frets 10–13
A♭ chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 24 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 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) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | G, A♭, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | A, B♭, B, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | D, E♭, E, F |
Why it sounds like that
Build A♭ chromatic from A♭ bebop dominant by adding the four semitones that the bebop scale omits. The result is twelve consecutive half steps, intervals 0–11, with no whole-tone gaps. Hear the contrast with A♭ bebop dominant.
When to use it
Play A♭ chromatic over A♭ major or A♭ minor progressions when you want stepwise motion. It works for jazz lines over A♭ major or A♭ minor. Blues and bebop players use it to connect chord tones.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root is on string 6, fret 4, covering frets 0–3. It keeps the hand low and prepares for Box 2 by shifting up two frets.
Common questions
Which notes are in A♭ chromatic?
A♭ chromatic contains A♭, A, B♭, B, C, D♭, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G. It is every semitone from A♭ to the next A♭. There are twelve notes. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords fit A♭ chromatic?
Any chord with root A♭ works because the scale includes all pitches. Use A♭ major or A♭ minor and add chromatic passing tones. The scale does not change the chord quality.
How is A♭ chromatic different from A♭ bebop dominant?
A♭ bebop dominant has eight notes; A♭ chromatic adds the four missing semitones. The chromatic scale fills every fret, while bebop dominant skips some. Both share the same root and many chord tones.