Tuning-specific scale diagram

Ab Harmonic Minor Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning

Ab Harmonic Minor Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning shows the same ab harmonic minor scale pitch classes across 8 strings tuned F# B E A D G B E. The seventh and eighth strings extend the pattern into the lower register for wider-range riffs and chord voicings.

Scale notes: Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, G
Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Semitones: 0 2 3 5 7 8 11
Tuning: F# B E A D G B E
Strings: 8
Open pitch range: F#1 to E4
24-fret range: F#1 to E6

Open strings and root positions

5 of the 8 open strings belong to Ab Harmonic Minor Scale: string 7 Cb (b3), string 6 Fb (b6), string 3 G (7), string 2 Cb (b3), and string 1 Fb (b6). None of those open-string tones is the Ab root, so the root must be fretted on every string.

String 7Cbb3

String 6Fbb6

String 3G7

String 2Cbb3

String 1Fbb6

First root on each string

String 8Fret 2

String 7Fret 9

String 6Fret 4

String 5Fret 11

String 4Fret 6

String 3Fret 1

String 2Fret 9

String 1Fret 4

Low-string pattern

On the lowest F# string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10, with the Ab root at fret 2. On the highest E string, the first Ab is at fret 4.

Fret 1G7

Fret 2Ab1

Fret 4Bb2

Fret 5Cbb3

Fret 7Db4

Fret 9Eb5

Fret 10Fbb6

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play Ab Harmonic Minor Scale on the low F# string at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10, saying each note name and degree aloud.
Build a phrase that lets Cb on open string 7 ring, then connect it to the nearest Ab root and two other scale tones.
Connect the Ab root positions on strings 8 through 1 at frets 2, 9, 4, 11, 6, 1, 9, and 4, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.