B♭ harmonic minor scale
The natural minor scale with a major seventh: it gives minor keys a real dominant chord, and an exotic flavor.
- Notes:
- B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A.
- Formula:
- 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7.
- Style:
- Classical, flamenco, metal.
- Difficulty:
- Advanced.
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
Its color
Harmonic minor is the natural minor scale with its seventh raised a half step: here A. Right below the root, that note pulls toward it. Between the sixth and the seventh, the step-and-a-half gap gives the scale its Middle Eastern color.
Which chords to play it over
Play it over the B♭m, E♭m, F7, B♭m cadence. It sounds best over the seventh chord: A is its third. Everything is explained on the harmonic minor scale page.
Where you hear it
Classical music, flamenco, Eastern European and Middle Eastern music, and neoclassical metal.
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 7 positions
Seven positions, one for each note of the scale, with three notes per string. The major seventh (in purple) sits a half step below the root: between it and the sixth, a step-and-a-half gap. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 6 to 11
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------------------8-9-11-| B|---------------------------7-10-11--------| G|--------------------6-8-10----------------| D|-------------7-8-10-----------------------| A|-------6-8-9------------------------------| E|-6-8-9------------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 8 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------9-11-13-| B|-------------------------------10-11-13---------| G|-----------------------8-10-11------------------| D|---------------8-10-11--------------------------| A|--------8-9-12----------------------------------| E|-8-9-11-----------------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 9 to 14
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------------------11-13-14-| B|-----------------------------------11-13-14----------| G|--------------------------10-11-14-------------------| D|-----------------10-11-13----------------------------| A|---------9-12-13-------------------------------------| E|-9-11-13---------------------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 11 to 17
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------------13-14-17-| B|-------------------------------------13-14-16----------| G|----------------------------11-14-15-------------------| D|-------------------11-13-15----------------------------| A|----------12-13-15-------------------------------------| E|-11-13-14----------------------------------------------|
Position 5: frets 1 to 6
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------2-5-6-| B|-------------------------2-4-6-------| G|-------------------2-3-5-------------| D|-------------1-3-4-------------------| A|-------1-3-4-------------------------| E|-1-2-5-------------------------------|
Position 6: frets 2 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------5-6-8-| B|-------------------------4-6-7-------| G|-------------------3-5-6-------------| D|-------------3-4-7-------------------| A|-------3-4-6-------------------------| E|-2-5-6-------------------------------|
Position 7: frets 4 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------6-8-9-| B|-------------------------6-7-10-------| G|-------------------5-6-8--------------| D|-------------4-7-8--------------------| A|-------4-6-8--------------------------| E|-5-6-8--------------------------------|