B aeolian dominant scale on guitar

B aeolian dominant has B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G, A. The Box 1 shape starts on the sixth string, seventh fret.

Positions on the neck1 of 6

How it is built

B1C♯2D♯3E4F♯5G♭6A♭7

Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7

How do you play the B aeolian dominant scale on guitar?

B aeolian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the B string at fret 0.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	0, 2, 3	E, F♯, G
5 (A)	0, 2	A, B
4 (D)	1, 2	D♯, E
3 (G)	0, 2	G, A
2 (B)	0, 2	B, C♯
1 (e)	0, 2, 3	E, F♯, G

Box 2 · frets 2–5

B aeolian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. 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
6 (E)	2, 3, 5	F♯, G, A
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	2, 4, 5	E, F♯, G
3 (G)	2, 4	A, B
2 (B)	2, 4, 5	C♯, D♯, E
1 (e)	2, 3, 5	F♯, G, A

Box 3 · frets 5–8

B aeolian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 13 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	5, 7	A, B
5 (A)	6, 7	D♯, E
4 (D)	5, 7	G, A
3 (G)	6, 8	C♯, D♯
2 (B)	5, 7, 8	E, F♯, G
1 (e)	5, 7	A, B

Box 4 · frets 7–10

B aeolian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the D string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	7, 9	B, C♯
5 (A)	7, 9, 10	E, F♯, G
4 (D)	7, 9	A, B
3 (G)	8, 9	D♯, E
2 (B)	7, 8, 10	F♯, G, A
1 (e)	7, 9	B, C♯

Box 5 · frets 9–12

B aeolian dominant in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the D string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E
5 (A)	9, 10, 12	F♯, G, A
4 (D)	9, 11	B, C♯
3 (G)	9, 11, 12	E, F♯, G
2 (B)	10, 12	A, B
1 (e)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E

Box 6 · frets 11–14

B aeolian dominant in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 14 and the B string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯
5 (A)	12, 14	A, B
4 (D)	11, 13, 14	C♯, D♯, E
3 (G)	11, 12, 14	F♯, G, A
2 (B)	12, 14	B, C♯
1 (e)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯

Why it sounds like that

Raise the third of B natural minor from D to D♯ to form this scale. The intervals are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. Compare with B natural minor to hear the change. The major third gives a dominant quality over the minor sixth.

When to use it

Use it over B major or B 5th chords in rock and metal. The ♭6 adds a dark flavor to dominant riffs. Try it over B major or B 5th.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root on the sixth string, seventh fret covers frets 0–3 and sets up Box 2.

Common questions

What notes are in B aeolian dominant?

The notes are B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G, A. The scale has a major third and a minor sixth. It is the fifth mode of E melodic minor.

Which chords work with B aeolian dominant?

The tonic chord is B major. You can also use B 5th power chords. Avoid chords with a natural sixth.

How does B aeolian dominant differ from B natural minor?

B aeolian dominant raises the third from D to D♯. This creates a major tonic triad instead of a minor one. The rest of the notes stay the same.