Ab Harmonic Major for Guitar
The Ab harmonic major scale consists of Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb and G. The flat sixth is Fb, which sounds exactly like E, so on the fretboard you are simply playing an E where a major scale would give F.
The root sits on the 4th fret of the low E string. If a chart is easier for you in sharps, the G# version has F## and B#, so Ab is usually the clearer page. A scale exercise such as breaking the scalar sound turns the pattern into melody.
Play the Ab harmonic major scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Ab harmonic major scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Bb | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| C | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| Db | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Eb | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| Fb | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| G | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
Ab harmonic major scale notes:
How the harmonic major scale is built:
The harmonic major scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 4 5 b6 7, which gives the step pattern W-W-H-W-H-W+H-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is the parent scale of its own modal family.
Ab Harmonic Major 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 Ab harmonic major scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
The harmonic major scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
