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B♭ melodic minor scale on bass guitar
B♭ melodic minor contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A. Box 1 starts on string 3, fret 1 and spans frets 1–4.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ melodic minor scale on bass?
B♭ melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 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.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 9 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 14 | G, A |
Why it sounds like that
Its altered interval creates tension while the supplied root and remaining tones stay fixed. Compare with B♭ major, which has a major third instead of D♭. The pattern is W, H, W, W, W, W, H.
When to use it
B♭ melodic minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords, especially in jazz and fusion. Use it over the tonic in B♭ minor keys when the harmony includes the major sixth or seventh. It also works over E♭ major and F major chords as borrowed tones.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 1, keeping the hand in frets 1–4 for easy access to the raised sixth and seventh.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ melodic minor?
B♭ melodic minor contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, and A. The scale has a minor third but raised sixth and seventh degrees. This gives it a distinctive major-minor hybrid sound. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ melodic minor fit?
B♭ melodic minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. It also works over E♭ major and F major chords. The raised sixth and seventh create smooth voice leading in minor-key progressions.
How does B♭ melodic minor differ from B♭ natural minor?
B♭ melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh degrees compared to B♭ natural minor. The displayed pattern preserves only the supplied notes and interval formula. Its verified note order explains the sound without relying on outside harmony.
What is the relative major of B♭ melodic minor?
The relative major of B♭ melodic minor is D♭ major. Both scales share the same key signature of five flats. However, B♭ melodic minor uses G and A as accidentals.