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A♭ gypsy major scale on guitar
A♭ gypsy major contains A♭, B♭♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G. Its Box 1 root on the 6th string, 4th fret is a mid-neck starting point for the scale.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the A♭ gypsy major scale on guitar?
A♭ gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 13 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, 3 | F♭, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 3 | B♭♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 3 | F♭, G |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ gypsy 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 5. 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 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6, 7 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5 | A♭, B♭♭ |
Box 3 · frets 8–11
A♭ gypsy major in box 3 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 15 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) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 11 | C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9 | E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 11–14
A♭ gypsy major in box 4 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♭ 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.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12 | E♭, F♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13, 14 | G, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 13, 14 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12 | E♭, F♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ gypsy major is A♭ phrygian dominant with the ♭7 raised to a major 7th. The scale keeps the ♭2, major 3rd, and ♭6, but the leading tone G replaces G♭. Compare it with A♭ phrygian dominant to hear the difference. The tritone between B♭♭ and E♭ and the augmented fifth from A♭ to F♭ give the scale its tension.
When to use it
A♭ gypsy major fits A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords, especially in metal and flamenco. The ♭2 and ♭6 also work over A♭ major progressions that borrow from phrygian. Use it for dramatic runs or cadences resolving to A♭.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first; its root on the 6th string, 4th fret anchors the pattern and covers frets 0–3 for easy access to the ♭2 and major 7th.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ gypsy major?
A♭ gypsy major uses A♭, B♭♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G. The scale has a minor 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, augmented 5th, and major 7th. It is also called Byzantine. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ gypsy major?
A♭ gypsy major works over A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭6 create tension that resolves to the tonic. Try it over an A♭ drone for a Middle Eastern sound.
How does A♭ gypsy major differ from A♭ phrygian dominant?
A♭ gypsy major raises the ♭7 of A♭ phrygian dominant to a major 7th. This changes G♭ to G, creating a leading tone. The rest of the scale remains the same.