Explore scales · Guitar
B chromatic scale on guitar
B chromatic uses B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯. Box 1 places the root on string 5, fret 2 for a low-position start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♯1, 2, ♯2, 3, 4, ♯4, 5, ♯5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the B chromatic scale on guitar?
B chromatic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 24 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯♯ 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, 1, 2, 3 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G♯♯, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B chromatic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 24 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G♯♯ 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, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | G♯♯, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
B chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 24 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the G string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
B chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 24 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯♯ on the high e string at fret 10. 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, 8, 9, 10 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | G♯♯, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
B chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 24 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, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
B chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 24 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, 13, 14 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | A♯, B, B♯, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Take B bebop dominant and add the four semitones it leaves out to build B chromatic. The scale runs twelve half steps, intervals 0–11, with no whole steps. Compare it with B bebop dominant to hear the filled frets.
When to use it
Use B chromatic over B major or B minor when you need chromatic passing tones. It suits jazz lines over B major or B minor. Fusion and bebop styles often employ this scale.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 5, fret 2, covering frets 0–3. It keeps the hand low and sets up Box 2 by shifting up five frets.
Common questions
Which notes are in B chromatic?
B chromatic contains B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯. It is every semitone from B to the next B. There are twelve notes.
What chords fit B chromatic?
Any chord with root B works because the scale includes all pitches. Try B major or B minor and use chromatic passing tones. The scale adds colour without changing the chord quality.
How is B chromatic different from B bebop dominant?
B bebop dominant has eight notes; B chromatic adds the four missing semitones. The chromatic scale fills every fret, while bebop dominant skips some. Both share the same root and many chord tones.