Ab Blues scale
Minor pentatonic with an added lowered 5th; the blue note adds controlled tension.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Ab Blues scale
- Family
- Pentatonic scales
- Note count
- 6
- Step formula
- W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-3-2-1-1-3-2
Notes & degrees
1Abroot
b3Cbminor 3rd
4Dbperfect 4th
b5Ddim 5th
5Ebperfect 5th
b7Gbminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Minor pentatonic with an added lowered 5th; the blue note adds controlled tension.
- Application in music
- The lowered 5th creates shifting tension over I7, IV7 and V7; the scale is used in blues improvisation.
- Interval formula
- AbWHCbWDbHDHEbWHGb
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IAbpoint of resttonic
VEbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIICbCb
IVDbDb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Ab Blues scale looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.