About the A#/Bb Major Scale (Ionian)
The A#/Bb major scale is a 7-note scale. The foundation of Western music theory. Its notes are A#, C, D, D#, F, G and A, built from the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
- Notes
- A# – C – D – D# – F – G – A
- 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
- A#/Bb
A#/Bb Major Scale (Ionian) degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A# | Root |
| 2 | C | Major 2nd |
| 3 | D | Major 3rd |
| 4 | D# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | G | Major 6th |
| 7 | A | Major 7th |
Where to play the A#/Bb Major Scale (Ionian) on ukulele
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (G C E A), lowest string first. Root notes (A#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| G4 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| C4 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| E4 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| A4 | 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 A#/Bb Major Scale (Ionian)
These scales share every note with the A#/Bb major scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major scale in other keys
Other scales in A#/Bb
- A#/Bb Minor Pentatonic
- A#/Bb Major Pentatonic
- A#/Bb Mixolydian Pentatonic
- A#/Bb Natural Minor
- A#/Bb Blues
- A#/Bb Dorian
- A#/Bb Mixolydian
- A#/Bb Phrygian
- A#/Bb Harmonic Minor
- A#/Bb Lydian
- A#/Bb Locrian
- A#/Bb Diminished (Half-Whole)
- A#/Bb Diminished (Whole-Half)
- A#/Bb Whole Tone
- A#/Bb Augmented (Hexatonic)
- A#/Bb Altered (Super Locrian)
- A#/Bb Phrygian Dominant
- A#/Bb Lydian Dominant
- A#/Bb Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- A#/Bb Bebop Dominant
- A#/Bb Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- A#/Bb Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)