Ab Pentatonic Major

A flat Pentatonic scale for guitar.
The Ab Pentatonic Major is a five-note scale. The fingerboard diagram shows the scale notes with root notes in darker color. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 4rd fret.

Ab Pentatonic Major 2 octaves

Ab Pentatonic Major scale diagram

Ab Pentatonic Major full fretboard

Ab Pentatonic Major scale whole guitar neck diagram

Ab Pentatonic Major with note names

Ab Pentatonic Major scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (3rd position)

A Pentatonic Major scale shape diagram 3rd pos

Shape 5 (1st position)

A Pentatonic Major scale shape diagram 1st pos
Notes: Ab - Bb - C - Eb - F Intervals: 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 Type: Pentatonic

The scale and its scale degrees.

Formula Notes
1 Ab
2 Bb
3 C
5 Eb
6 F

The fourth degree is omitted, as well as the seventh, since the degrees are based on the regular Major seven-note scale.

The interval formula (2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending) Interval
Ab-Bb M2
Ab-C M3
Ab-Eb P5
Ab-F M6
Notes (descending) Interval
Ab-F m3
Ab-Eb P4
Ab-C m6
Ab-Bb m7

Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.

The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The Ab Pentatonic Major is relative to F Pentatonic Minor. Both scales include the same notes but with different root notes.

Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:

  • Ab
  • Bbm7
  • Cm7
  • Ebsus4
  • Fm

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the Ab Pentatonic Major scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (Db) in Bbm7 and the fifth (G) in Cm7 are not included in the scale.

Related to this scale is the Ab Pentatonic Major add4, adding the 4th degree. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 Ab Unison Tonic
2 Bb Major second Supertonic
3 C Major third Mediant
4 Db Augmented fourth Subdominant
5 Eb Perfect fifth Dominant
6 F Sixth Submediant

The Ab Pentatonic Major add4 scale, is identical with the Ab Major except for missing the major 7th interval.

Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo:
Slow tempo:

A flat Pentatonic Major scale first shape ascending.

Ab Pentatonic Major scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.