About the G#/Ab Major Scale (Ionian)
The G#/Ab major scale is a 7-note scale. The foundation of Western music theory. Its notes are G#, A#, C, C#, D#, F and G, built from the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
- Notes
- G# – A# – C – C# – D# – F – G
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Steps
- W W H W W W H (2–2–1–2–2–2–1 semitones)
- Root
- G#/Ab
G#/Ab Major Scale (Ionian) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| 2 | A# | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C | Major 3rd |
| 4 | C# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D# | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Major 6th |
| 7 | G | Major 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab Major Scale (Ionian) on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (G#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
How to practice the major scale
- Master the 3-note-per-string patterns
- Practice scale sequences (3rds, 4ths)
- Work on position shifts while playing
- Play over I-IV-V progressions
- Focus on resolving to the root note
Scales with the same notes as G#/Ab Major Scale (Ionian)
These scales share every note with the G#/Ab major scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major scale in other keys
Other scales in G#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Blues
- G#/Ab Dorian
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Harmonic Minor
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Locrian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Altered (Super Locrian)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)