B blues scale
The B minor pentatonic plus a sixth note: the flat fifth, or “blue note.” It’s what gives the blues its color, slipped in between the fourth and the fifth.
- Notes:
- B, D, E, F, F♯, A.
- Formula:
- 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.
- Style:
- Blues, rock, jazz.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 5 positions
These are the five minor pentatonic positions, plus the blue note (in purple) wherever it falls in the position. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 7 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------7-10-| B|-----------------------7-10------| G|----------------7-9-10-----------| D|------------7-9------------------| A|------7-8-9----------------------| E|-7-10----------------------------|
Position 2: frets 9 to 12
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------10-12-| B|-------------------------10-12-------| G|-----------------9-10-11-------------| D|------------9-12---------------------| A|-------9-12--------------------------| E|-10-12-------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 11 to 15
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------------12-13-14-| B|-------------------------------12-15----------| G|-------------------------11-14----------------| D|----------------12-14-15----------------------| A|----------12-14-------------------------------| E|-12-13-14-------------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 2 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 14 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------2-5-| B|-------------------3-5-----| G|---------------2-4---------| D|---------2-3-4-------------| A|-----2-5-------------------| E|-2-5-----------------------|
Position 5: frets 4 to 7
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------5-7-| B|-----------------5-6-7-----| G|-------------4-7-----------| D|---------4-7---------------| A|-----5-7-------------------| E|-5-7-----------------------|