Soul / R&B · Ab Major · 112 BPM

Soul / R&B Backing Track in Ab Major

16-bar arrangement from the “Motown Feel” demo, transposed from D major to Ab major, at 112 BPM. Chord chart, scale positions and practice drills for Ab major (also written G# Major).

Open in the app · Ab · 112 BPM

Hear the soul / r&b feel: “Motown Feel” · D major · 112 BPM

This recording is the original “Motown Feel” demo in D major at 112 BPM. It is not transposed: it lets you hear the soul / R&B feel. The app generates your track in Ab major.

16-bar chord chart in Ab Major

16-bar arrangement from the “Motown Feel” demo, transposed from D major to Ab major. Count four beats per bar; each card shows where the chord starts.

  1. Bar 1 Ab I · 4 beats
  2. Bar 2 Db IV · 4 beats
  3. Bar 3 Eb V · 4 beats
  4. Bar 4 Db IV · 4 beats
  5. Bar 5 Ab I · 4 beats
  6. Bar 6 Db IV · 4 beats
  7. Bar 7 Eb V · 4 beats
  8. Bar 8 Db IV · 4 beats
  9. Bar 9 Ab I · 4 beats
  10. Bar 10 Fm7 vi7 · 4 beats
  11. Bar 11 Db IV · 4 beats
  12. Bar 12 Eb V · 4 beats
  13. Bar 13 Ab I · 4 beats
  14. Bar 14 Fm7 vi7 · 4 beats
  15. Bar 15 Db IV · 4 beats
  16. Bar 16 Eb V · 4 beats

Chart of the bundled demo arrangement, transposed from D major with every interval kept. The demo's inspiration prompt is a style reference, not a transcription of a song.

Open in the app: Soul / R&B, Ab, 112 BPM Open the original demo (D major)

The app opens with the style, key, tempo and this chart filled in; press Generate to create your track (it counts toward your daily generations). The original demo opens the recorded arrangement without a generation.

More about “Motown Feel”

Chord chart and notes for “Motown Feel”.

I–vi–IV–V in Ab Major

The doo-wop / soul backbone. Every motown-era hit you can hum is built on this.

I
Ab
VI
Fm
IV
Db
V
Eb
Generate a backing track over these changes →

Scales to solo in Ab Major

Three scales that sit well over soul / r&b in Ab major. Each one gives the line a different color — try them all and notice what changes.

Scale
Ab Major Pentatonic
Ab Bb C Eb F
Scale
Ab Mixolydian
Ab Bb C Db Eb F Gb
Scale
Ab Major Scale
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

Where to play in Ab Major

Five-fret windows in standard tuning, anchored on Ab on the low E string. Highlighted notes are the root.

Ab Major Pentatonic
Stringfret 3fret 4fret 5fret 6fret 7
e Ab Bb
B Eb F
G Bb C
D F Ab
A C Eb
E Ab Bb
Notes: Ab Bb C Eb F. Root on the 6th string at fret 4, on the 5th string at fret 11.
Ab Mixolydian
Stringfret 3fret 4fret 5fret 6fret 7
e Ab Bb
B Eb F Gb
G Bb C Db
D F Gb Ab
A C Db Eb
E Ab Bb
Notes: Ab Bb C Db Eb F Gb. Root on the 6th string at fret 4, on the 5th string at fret 11.

Practice drills

  1. 1. Find the changes in Ab Major

    Play only the root on the first beat of each change: Ab (bar 1, Ab), Db (bar 2, Db), Eb (bar 3, Eb), Db (bar 4, Db), Ab (bar 5, Ab), Db (bar 6, Db), Eb (bar 7, Eb), Db (bar 8, Db), Ab (bar 9, Ab), F (bar 10, Fm7), and so on through the form. Keep counting through every bar that holds the same chord; the form resolves back to Ab.

  2. 2. Target the guide tones

    When each chord arrives, land on its third and hold it for a beat: C over Ab, F over Db, G over Eb, Ab over Fm7. Then repeat with the seventh (see the table) to hear how the line leads into the next chord.

  3. 3. Ab Major Pentatonic in position

    Play Ab Major Pentatonic (Ab Bb C Eb F) up and down in frets 3–7, one note per beat at 112 BPM. Start and finish on Ab: 6th string fret 4, or 5th string fret 11 for the next position up.

Guide tones for every chord in the chart
ChordRoot3rd7th / 6th
AbAbC—
DbDbF—
EbEbG—
Fm7FAbEb (b7)

Keep practicing

Try Soul / R&B in another key

Chord chart, scale positions and practice drills in the keys soul / r&b is most often played in.

C Major D Major G Major D Minor E Minor
← Back to all soul / r&b tracks

Play Soul / R&B in Ab Major

Open the app with Soul / R&B, Ab, 112 BPM and this chart pre-filled. Press Generate when you are ready.

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