Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A♭ Ionian ♯5
♯5 on a major scale. Bright with an unsettled lift.
Where you hear it: Over maj7♯5 (the III+ of harmonic minor).
Step pattern W – W – H – W+H – H – W – H
- Parent scale: F harmonic minor (starts on its 3rd degree)
- Compared with A♭ major: ♯5 E♭ → E
- Compared with A♭ natural minor: ♯3 C♭ → C, ♯5 E♭ → E, ♯6 F♭ → F, ♯7 G♭ → G
A♭ Ionian ♯5 on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r 2 3 ♯5 6: playedother notes of Ionian ♯5: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as A♭ Ionian ♯5
Every chord in A♭ Ionian ♯5
- A♭maj7♯51/9easyfret 4· shell
- B♭m71/23easyfret 1· shell
- C71/19easyopen
- D♭maj71/16easyfret 9· shell
- Edim71/4easyfret 2
- Fm(maj7)1/4mediumfret 8
- Gm7♭51/14easyfret 3· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A♭ Ionian ♯5
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
I+ – IV
The augmented tonic has a ♯5 that sits a half step below the 6th. When the IV arrives that note resolves up into it.
ii – III – vi
The III is a dominant 7th chord. Its 3rd, the ♯5 of the scale, is also the major 7th of the vi chord, so one note links both chords.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From A♭aug you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of A♭ Ionian ♯5.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.