Tuning-specific scale diagram

Ab Minor Blues Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning

Ab Minor Blues Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning shows the same ab minor blues 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, Cb, Db, Ebb, Eb, Gb
Formula: 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7
Semitones: 0 3 5 6 7 10
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

4 of the 8 open strings belong to Ab Minor Blues Scale: string 8 Gb (b7), string 7 Cb (b3), string 4 Ebb (b5), 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 8Gbb7

String 7Cbb3

String 4Ebbb5

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 0, 2, 5, 7, 8, and 9, with the Ab root at fret 2. On the highest E string, the first Ab is at fret 4.

OpenGbb7

Fret 2Ab1

Fret 5Cbb3

Fret 7Db4

Fret 8Ebbb5

Fret 9Eb5

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play Ab Minor Blues Scale on the low F# string at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 8, and 9, saying each note name and degree aloud.
Build a phrase that lets Gb on open string 8 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.