Tuning-specific scale diagram
Ab Major Pentatonic Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning
Ab Major Pentatonic Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning shows the same ab major pentatonic 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, C, Eb, F
- Formula
- 1 2 3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 2 4 7 9
- 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
None of the 8 open strings belongs to Ab Major Pentatonic Scale. Every scale tone must therefore be fretted, beginning with the first available tone on the low F# string.
First root on each string
Low-string pattern
On the lowest F# string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 2, 4, 6, 9, and 11, with the Ab root at fret 2. On the highest E string, the first Ab is at fret 4.
Practice this tuning-specific layout
- Play Ab Major Pentatonic Scale on the low F# string at frets 2, 4, 6, 9, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
- Play the scale without using an open string, then stop on the nearest Ab root each time the line changes strings.
- 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.
Fretboard diagram
Open this diagram in the fretboard tool
Start with Ab Major Pentatonic Scale and 8-string standard tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
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