G Aeolian b5 for Guitar
G, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb and F make up the G Aeolian b5 scale. The Db is the flat fifth that turns G minor into something darker.
The open G string and the 3rd fret of the low E string give the root, with another on the 10th fret of the A string. Bb melodic minor has the same notes. The scale suits the ii chord of a minor ii-V-i, and bebop scales add more jazz vocabulary.
Play the G aeolian b5 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the G aeolian b5 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Root | 0 |
| A | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| Bb | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| C | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Db | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| Eb | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| F | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
G aeolian b5 scale notes:
How the aeolian b5 scale is built:
The aeolian b5 scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-H-W-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 6 of the Melodic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Locrian #2 and Half-Diminished Scale.
G Aeolian b5 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (G)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the G aeolian b5 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the aeolian b5 scale, starting from a different degree.