Tuning-specific scale diagram

Ab Melodic Minor Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning

Ab Melodic Minor Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning shows the same ab melodic 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, F, G
Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
Semitones: 0 2 3 5 7 9 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

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

String 7Cbb3

String 3G7

String 2Cbb3

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 11, 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 11F6

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play Ab Melodic Minor Scale on the low F# string at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11, 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.