Explore scales · Ukulele
A♭ neutral pentatonic scale on ukulele
A♭ neutral pentatonic uses A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭. Box 1 places roots on string 4 fret 1 and string 2 fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ neutral pentatonic scale on ukulele?
A♭ neutral pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the C string at fret 1 up to D♭ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 1 and the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 1, 3 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (A) | 1, 4 | B♭, D♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A♭ neutral pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 8 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, 6 | B♭, D♭ |
| 3 (C) | 3, 6 | E♭, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ neutral pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the C string at fret 6 up to G♭ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the C string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 6, 8 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 9 | E♭, G♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ neutral pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 8 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, 11 | E♭, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ neutral pentatonic raises the minor 3rd of A♭ minor pentatonic to a major 2nd, keeping the perfect 4th, perfect 5th, and minor 7th. It contains no tritone and no leading tone. Hear the difference against A♭ minor pentatonic.
When to use it
A♭ neutral pentatonic fits A♭ 5th and A♭ suspended 2nd chords, and its notes outline D♭ 5th and E♭ minor. Use it over A♭-centred modal vamps or open-string drones in A♭. It also works over A♭ 5th and A♭ suspended 2nd.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 4 fret 1 sits under the index finger, and the open first string provides a high A♭ anchor.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ neutral pentatonic?
A♭ neutral pentatonic contains A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭. The formula is 1, 2, 4, 5, ♭7. It omits the 3rd and 6th degrees. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does A♭ neutral pentatonic fit?
A♭ neutral pentatonic fits A♭ 5th and A♭ suspended 2nd chords. It also works over D♭ 5th and E♭ minor. Avoid full major or minor triads with a 3rd.
Is A♭ neutral pentatonic the same as A♭ minor pentatonic?
No. A♭ neutral pentatonic replaces the minor 3rd C♭ with the major 2nd B♭. The other four notes are identical.