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A♭ gypsy minor scale on guitar
A♭ gypsy minor contains A♭, B♭, C♭, E♭♭, E♭, F♭, G. Box 1 has the root on string 6, fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♭5, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the A♭ gypsy minor scale on guitar?
A♭ gypsy minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 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) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2 | E♭♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 3 | C♭, E♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 3 | F♭, G |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ gypsy minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 15 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) | 5, 6, 7 | E♭♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6 | G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 7 | C♭, E♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ gypsy minor 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 7. 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 | B♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7 | E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8, 9 | E♭♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9 | G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7 | B♭, C♭ |
Box 4 · frets 10–13
A♭ gypsy minor in box 4 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 15 notes across 6 strings, from E♭♭ on the low E string at fret 10 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) | 10, 11, 12 | E♭♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 12, 13 | E♭♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12 | B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 12 | E♭♭, E♭, F♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ gypsy minor is A♭ harmonic minor with the fourth degree raised: D♭ becomes E♭♭. The 1½-step gap between C♭ and E♭♭ is characteristic. See A♭ harmonic minor for the parent scale.
When to use it
Use A♭ gypsy minor over A♭ minor or A♭ 5th chords. The ♭5 adds colour to A♭ minor and A♭ 5th. It fits Eastern European and jazz styles.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It places the root on string 6, fret 4 and covers frets 0–3, setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ gypsy minor?
A♭, B♭, C♭, E♭♭, E♭, F♭, G. The fourth degree is double-flattened. The seventh is major. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ gypsy minor?
A♭ minor and A♭ 5th are the primary chords. The flat fifth creates tension. Use it in minor progressions.
What is the difference between A♭ gypsy minor and A♭ harmonic minor?
A♭ gypsy minor raises the fourth degree from D♭ to E♭♭. This creates a 1½-step gap between C♭ and E♭♭. The rest of the scale matches A♭ harmonic minor.