A♭ Major Pentatonic Scale (Ab)
The Ab major pentatonic scale contains Ab – Bb – C – Eb – F. It is Ab major without its 4th (Db) and 7th (G), so it is usually written in the key signature of Ab major: 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
Ab major pentatonic scale chart
Pentatonic and blues scales have no standard book fingering, so none is shown here. Pick fingers that keep your thumb off the black keys.
Ab major pentatonic vs Ab major
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | G |
| Pentatonic | Ab | Bb | C | – | Eb | F | – |
Db and G are the two notes of Ab major that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all, which is why it is so hard to play a wrong note with it. Its relative is F minor pentatonic, which uses the same five keys starting from F.
What Ab major pentatonic is used for
It is a go-to for melodies and solos in country, folk, pop and rock. Every note belongs to Ab major, so it fits over the chords in the key of Ab major, and with no half steps nothing clashes for long. Start and end phrases on Ab, C or Eb, the notes of the Ab chord, to sound settled.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Ab | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | root | 0 |
| Bb | 2 | major 2nd | 2 |
| C | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| Eb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| F | 6 | major 6th | 9 |
Step pattern
The major pentatonic scale is built from the pattern W – W – W+H – W – W+H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
Ab major has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. The pentatonic plays Ab, Bb, C, Eb and F, so Db and G simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with Ab major pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ab | Ab C Eb |
| Absus2 | Ab Bb Eb |
| Abmaj6 | Ab C Eb F |
| Bbsus2 | Bb C F |
| Bbsus4 | Bb Eb F |
| Ebsus2 | Eb F Bb |
| Ebsus4 | Eb Ab Bb |
| Fm | F Ab C |
| Fm7 | F Ab C Eb |
| Fsus4 | F Bb C |
More scales on Ab
Major Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Ab major pentatonic scale?
The Ab major pentatonic scale contains Ab, Bb, C, Eb, F, then returns to Ab an octave higher.
Which notes does Ab major pentatonic leave out of Ab major?
The 4th, Db, and the 7th, G. What remains is Ab, Bb, C, Eb, F.
What is the relative minor pentatonic of Ab major pentatonic?
F minor pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with F as its tonic.
What is the step pattern of the major pentatonic scale?
It follows the pattern W – W – W+H – W – W+H, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.