About the G flat Vietnamese scale
G flat Vietnamese is used for Vietnamese-flavored and folk melodies. Think of it as a dark five-note scale with a minor third and flat sixth.
Its notes are G♭, A, C♭, D♭, and D. The formula is 1½ W W H 4 semitones.
Three open-string notes belong to G♭ Vietnamese, namely A, D, and B. Down at the 2nd fret of the low E string lies the lowest G♭ a guitar can play. A capo at the second fret lets a guitarist play G♭ Vietnamese with E-shape fingerings.
Positions
Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.
Pentatonic boxes
The five shapes blues and rock are built on, the first scale most guitarists ever solo with, one box per note up the neck.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | GbG♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | AA | Minor 3rd |
| 3 | CbC♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 5 | DD | Minor 6th |
| Steps | 1½ W W H 4 semitones |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 3-2-2-1-4 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths