Explore scales · Guitar
A♭ major scale on guitar
A♭ major uses the notes A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 and places the root on the sixth string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the A♭ major scale on guitar?
A♭ major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 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, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–6
A♭ major in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 6, 12 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 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6 | G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 15 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, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 17 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, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 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 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ major follows the whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step pattern. The A♭ major pentatonic drops the fourth and seventh degrees. The D♭ and G add harmonic richness to the pentatonic sound.
When to use it
A♭ major fits A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. It also works over the key's diatonic chords like D♭ major and E♭ major. Use it for jazz, soul, and horn-driven rock.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 6, fret 4 keeps the scale in a comfortable low position.
Common questions
What notes are in the A♭ major scale?
A♭ major contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G. The scale has four flats. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit the A♭ major scale?
A♭ major works over A♭ major and A♭ 5th chords. It also fits D♭ major and E♭ major. The seventh degree, G, leads strongly to A♭.
What is the relative minor of A♭ major?
The relative minor of A♭ major is F minor. Both scales share the same key signature of four flats. F minor starts on the sixth degree of A♭ major.