Explore scales · Guitar
B♭ aeolian dominant scale on guitar
B♭ aeolian dominant contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G♭, and A♭. Its Box 1 shape places the root on string 6, fret 6.
How it is built
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 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
B♭ aeolian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 13 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6 | D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7 | C, D |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ aeolian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 9 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ aeolian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B♭ aeolian dominant in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 13 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ aeolian dominant is B♭ natural minor with a raised third: D instead of D♭. The scale keeps the minor seventh and the flattened sixth, so it carries the augmented fifth from B♭ to G♭. Compare B♭ natural minor to hear the one-note difference.
When to use it
B♭ aeolian dominant fits B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. Use it over C minor 7th flat 5th or C diminished for tension. The scale suits rock and fusion lines in B♭.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 6, and the shape covers frets 1–4.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ aeolian dominant?
B♭ aeolian dominant contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G♭, and A♭. The scale has a major third and a minor seventh. It is the fifth mode of E♭ melodic minor. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ aeolian dominant fit?
B♭ aeolian dominant fits B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. It also works over C minor 7th flat 5th and C diminished. The scale adds an augmented fifth color to dominant sounds.
What is the difference between B♭ aeolian dominant and B♭ natural minor?
B♭ aeolian dominant raises the third degree from D♭ to D. This creates a major third instead of a minor third. The rest of the notes stay the same.