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Tuning-specific scale diagram

Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale in B Standard Tuning

Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale in B Standard Tuning shows the same ab natural minor (aeolian) scale pitch classes across 6 strings tuned B E A D F# B. The tuning changes where the same pitch classes sit across the fretboard.

Scale notes
Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb
Formula
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Semitones
0 2 3 5 7 8 10
Parent scale
B major
Tuning
B E A D F# B
Strings
6
Open pitch range
B1 to B3
24-fret range
B1 to B5

Open strings and root positions

4 of the 6 open strings belong to Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale: string 6 Cb (b3), string 5 Fb (b6), string 2 Gb (b7), and string 1 Cb (b3). None of those open-string tones is the Ab root, so the root must be fretted on every string.

String 6Cbb3
String 5Fbb6
String 2Gbb7
String 1Cbb3

First root on each string

String 6Fret 9
String 5Fret 4
String 4Fret 11
String 3Fret 6
String 2Fret 2
String 1Fret 9

Low-string pattern

On the lowest B string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11, with the Ab root at fret 9. On the highest B string, the first Ab is at fret 9.

OpenCbb3
Fret 2Db4
Fret 4Eb5
Fret 5Fbb6
Fret 7Gbb7
Fret 9Ab1
Fret 11Bb2

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale on the low B string at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Build a phrase that lets Cb on open string 6 ring, then connect it to the nearest Ab root and two other scale tones.
  3. Connect the Ab root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 9, 4, 11, 6, 2, and 9, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale in B Standard Tuning fretboard diagram
Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale in B Standard Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing B E A D F# B.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale and b standard tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

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Reference pages

Ab Natural Minor (Aeolian) Guitar ScaleMain scale referenceB Standard TuningTuning notes and range
Ab Minor Pentatonic Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningAb Minor Blues Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningAb Harmonic Minor Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningAb Melodic Minor Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningB Major (Ionian) Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningC# Dorian Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningEb Phrygian Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningE Lydian Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningF# Mixolydian Guitar ScaleB Standard TuningBb Locrian Guitar ScaleB Standard Tuning
Ab Minor Guitar ArpeggioB Standard TuningAb Minor 7 Guitar ArpeggioB Standard TuningAb Minor Add9 Guitar ArpeggioB Standard Tuning

Same scale in other tunings

E Flat Standard TuningEb Ab Db Gb Bb EbD Standard TuningD G C F A DC Standard TuningC F Bb Eb G CDrop D TuningD A D G B EDrop C# TuningC# G# C# F# A# D#Drop C TuningC G C F A DDrop B TuningB F# B E G# C#DADGAD TuningD A D G A DOpen E TuningE B E G# B EOpen D TuningD A D F# A DOpen G TuningD G D G B DOpen C TuningC G C G C EOpen A TuningE A E A C# E7-String Standard TuningB E A D G B E7-String Drop A TuningA E A D G B E7-String Drop G TuningG D G C F A D8-String Standard TuningF# B E A D G B E8-String Drop E TuningE B E A D G B E