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B♭ blues diminished scale on guitar
B♭ blues diminished runs B♭, C♭, D♭, D, F♭, F, G, A♭. Box 1 keeps the root on string 5, fret 1 for a compact start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ blues diminished scale on guitar?
B♭ blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 17 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ 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 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | F♭, F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, F♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2, 3 | C♭, D♭, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 3 | F♭, F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 17 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the G string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5 | D♭, D |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 5, 6 | D, F♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 17 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. 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, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8 | F♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 9 | D♭, D, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
B♭ blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to F♭ on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | D♭, D, F♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | C♭, D♭, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 12 | F♭, F, G |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11, 12 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | D♭, D, F♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ blues diminished adds a ♭2 to B♭ hungarian major, keeping the same ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7. The scale alternates half and whole steps, creating a tritone between B♭ and F♭. Compare it with B♭ hungarian major to hear the added minor 2nd.
When to use it
B♭ blues diminished fits B♭ major and B♭ minor chords, adding tension with the ♭2 and ♭5. Use the supplied linked chords to hear its tension without adding unsupported harmony.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 5, fret 1, covering frets 0–3 and setting up the next position.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ blues diminished?
B♭ blues diminished contains B♭, C♭, D♭, D, F♭, F, G, and A♭. The scale includes both minor and major thirds, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords work with B♭ blues diminished?
B♭ blues diminished works over B♭ major and B♭ minor chords. The scale's ♭2 and ♭5 create tension that resolves to chord tones.
Is B♭ blues diminished the same as B♭ diminished?
B♭ blues diminished is an eight-note scale, not a diminished seventh chord. It combines a blues scale with a half-whole diminished pattern.