Explore scales · Ukulele
A♭ blues major scale on ukulele
A♭ blues major uses A♭, B♭, C♭, C, E♭, and F. The ♭3–3 pair sits on strings 4 and 3 in Box 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the A♭ blues major scale on ukulele?
A♭ blues major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 3 | C, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1 | F |
| 1 (A) | 1, 2, 3 | B♭, C♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A♭ blues major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 9 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 4, 5 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 3 (C) | 3, 5 | E♭, F |
| 2 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 6 | C, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A♭ blues major in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the C string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5, 8 | C, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 8 | F, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 7, 8 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 1 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ blues major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the C string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10, 11 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 8, 11 | F, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ blues major adds a ♭3 (C♭) to the A♭ major pentatonic notes A♭, B♭, C, E♭, F. The C♭–F pair is a diminished 5th, giving the scale its tritone. This six-note scale keeps the major 3rd C and adds the minor 3rd C♭ for blues colour. Compare it with A♭ major pentatonic.
When to use it
Use A♭ blues major over A♭ major and A♭ minor chords. The ♭3 works against the major 3rd in A♭ major, and the 6th F fits F minor. It suits blues, rock, and funk in A♭.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root A♭ on string 4, fret 1 and covers frets 0–3.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ blues major?
A♭ blues major contains A♭, B♭, C♭, C, E♭, and F. The C♭ is a ♭3 and the C is a major 3rd. Together they create the blues sound. 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. The scale also works over F minor and E♭ 5th. Use it over dominant 7th chords for a bluesy feel.
How is A♭ blues major different from A♭ major pentatonic?
A♭ blues major adds the ♭3 C♭ to A♭ major pentatonic. The pentatonic has A♭, B♭, C, E♭, F. The added C♭ creates tension against the major 3rd.