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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 2 and spans frets 0–3.
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 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A♯ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | A♯, B |
| 2 (D) | 0, 2 | D, E |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | G♯, A♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4, 5 | B, C♯, D |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4 | A♯, B |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
B melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 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 7 and the G string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5, 7 | C♯, D, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6, 7 | B, C♯, D |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
B melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 9 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the D string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 9 | A♯, B |
| 1 (G) | 7, 9 | D, E |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
B melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
B melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh degrees of B natural minor, so G and A become G♯ and A♯. 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 2, keeping the hand in frets 0–3 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.
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. B natural minor has G and A, while B melodic minor has G♯ and A♯. This removes the augmented second interval between G and A♯.
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 two sharps. However, B melodic minor uses G♯ and A♯ as accidentals.