Ab Aeolian b5, Shape by Shape
The Ab Aeolian b5 scale is Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb and Gb. Ebb is the flat fifth, and it is the same pitch as D, while Cb and Fb are B and E.
The root is on the 4th fret of the low E string and the 11th fret of the A string. Cb melodic minor is its parent, but the G# page gives the same scale in a form that is much easier to read.
Play the Ab aeolian b5 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Ab aeolian b5 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Bb | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| Cb | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| Db | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Ebb | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| Fb | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| Gb | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
Ab 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.
Ab 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 Ab 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.
The aeolian b5 scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
