B♭ chromatic runs B♭, B, C, C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A. Box 1 starts on the third string and covers the lowest frets.
B♭ chromatic runs B♭, B, C, C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A. Box 1 starts on the third string and covers the lowest frets.
The B♭ chromatic scale is built from twelve consecutive half steps, so it contains every pitch. It expands the B♭ bebop dominant scale, which leaves out B, C♯, E, F♯, and G♯. The chromatic scale has no tonal pull of its own. See B♭ bebop dominant for the parent sound.
B♭ chromatic works for passing bass lines in B♭ major or B♭ minor. It connects chord tones in jazz walking bass, especially over B♭ major or B♭ minor progressions. Use it in funk for chromatic approaches to the root.
Learn Box 1 first: the root is on string 3, fret 1, and the shape spans frets 0–3. It keeps the hand low and prepares the shift to Box 2.
B♭ chromatic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 16 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 3 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | A, B♭, B, C |
| 2 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 1 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
B♭ chromatic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 3.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
| 3 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 2 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | A, B♭, B, C |
B♭ chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 16 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the E string at fret 4 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the E string at fret 6.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, A, B♭, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | C♯, D, E♭, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
| 1 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | B, C, C♯, D |
B♭ chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the D string at fret 8.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | G♯, A, B♭, B |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | C♯, D, E♭, E |
B♭ chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 8.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, C♯, D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
B♭ chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 16 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G♯ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C, C♯, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
The B♭ chromatic scale includes B♭, B, C, C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, and A. That is all twelve pitches. Each note is a half step from the next. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Yes, but use it as passing motion. The chord tones B♭, D, and F anchor the sound. Chromatic notes between them create tension that resolves quickly.
B♭ bebop dominant has eight notes and a clear dominant function. B♭ chromatic has all twelve notes and no key center. The bebop scale is a subset of the chromatic scale.