Scale Lesson 21

Ab Major Scale in 1st Position

Ab Major Scale is built the same way we have built every other major scale.  Start on an Ab and use the formula:

W W H W W W H

We get:

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

Therefore the key of  Ab  major has four flats (Bb, Eb, Ab and Db).

Ab Major Pentatonic

Build by removing the 4th and 7th degree of the any major scale to make it pentatonic.  In the case of the Ab major scale, we would remove the Db and G.  We are left with Ab major pentatonic:

Ab Bb C Eb F

F Minor is Ab majors relative minor.  So play from F to F in the key of Ab and you are playing and F minor scale.

F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F

Ab Major Pentatonic

Build by removing the 4th and 7th degree of the any major scale to make it pentatonic.  In the case of the Ab major scale, we would remove the Db and G.  We are left with Ab major pentatonic:

Ab Bb C Eb F

F Minor Pentatonic

F Ab Bb C Eb