A♭ major pentatonic scale on guitar
The A♭ major pentatonic scale has 5 notes: A♭, B♭, C, E♭ and F. Five notes from the major scale with the two “tense” notes (the 4th and 7th) left out. Almost nothing can clash, which makes it a favourite for sweet, singable melodies and country and pop solos.
Notes in A♭ major pentatonic
- Formula
- 1 2 3 5 6
- Step pattern
- W – W – W+H – W – W+H
- Notes
- 5
Tap a note to hear it.
A♭ major pentatonic across the neck
Every A♭ major pentatonic note on the first 12 frets in standard tuning. Filled dots are the root, A♭. A good place to start: A♭ on the low E string is at fret 4, so play the notes between frets 3 and 7 first, then move up the neck.
Intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval from A♭ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | Root |
| 2 | B♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C | Major 3rd |
| 5 | E♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Major 6th |
Chords to play A♭ major pentatonic over
The A♭ major pentatonic scale fits the main chords of the A♭ major key:
Related scales
- It uses exactly the same five notes as F minor pentatonic, so one shape covers both.
- Add the 4th and 7th back and you have the full A♭ major scale.
Questions
What notes are in the A♭ major pentatonic scale?
A♭, B♭, C, E♭, F. Its formula is 1 2 3 5 6.
Where do I start the A♭ major pentatonic scale on guitar?
A♭ on the low E string is at fret 4, so play the notes between frets 3 and 7 first. The fretboard map on this page shows every A♭ major pentatonic note on the first 12 frets.
What scales are related to A♭ major pentatonic?
It uses exactly the same five notes as F minor pentatonic, so one shape covers both.
More scales
Major pentatonic in every key
Other scales from A♭