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B♭ gypsy minor scale on guitar
B♭ gypsy minor contains B♭, C, D♭, F♭, F, G♭, A. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♭5, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the B♭ gypsy minor scale on guitar?
B♭ gypsy minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ on the low E string at fret 0 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. 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, 2 | F♭, F, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | A, B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3 | F♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2 | F♭, F, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B♭ gypsy minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 14 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 5 | G♭, A |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4 | F♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | A, B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 5 | D♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 5 | G♭, A |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ gypsy minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 15 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, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 9 | F♭, F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 9 | D♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7 | F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ gypsy minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 14 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. 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, 9 | C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9 | F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11 | F♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9 | C, D♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ gypsy minor is B♭ harmonic minor with the fourth degree raised: E♭ becomes F♭. The 1½-step gap between D♭ and F♭ defines its sound. See B♭ harmonic minor for the unaltered form.
When to use it
Use B♭ gypsy minor over B♭ minor or B♭ 5th chords. The ♭5 adds colour to B♭ minor and B♭ 5th. It fits Middle Eastern and flamenco styles.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It puts the root on string 6, fret 6 and covers frets 0–3, leading naturally to Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ gypsy minor?
B♭, C, D♭, F♭, F, G♭, A. The fourth degree is flattened twice. The seventh is major. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit B♭ gypsy minor?
B♭ minor and B♭ 5th are the primary chords. The flat fifth creates tension. Use it in minor progressions.
What is the difference between B♭ gypsy minor and B♭ harmonic minor?
B♭ gypsy minor raises the fourth degree from E♭ to F♭. This creates a 1½-step gap between D♭ and F♭. The rest of the scale matches B♭ harmonic minor.