Explore scales · Guitar
B♭ major scale on guitar
B♭ major uses the notes B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, and A. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 and places the root on the fifth string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ major scale on guitar?
B♭ major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 13 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 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) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 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, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–8
B♭ major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 8, 12 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 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 15 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, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10, 11 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B♭ major in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 17 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) | 10, 12, 13 | G, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 13 | A, B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ major follows the whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step sequence. The five-note B♭ major pentatonic omits the fourth and seventh degrees. The E♭ and A add colour to the pentatonic core.
When to use it
B♭ major fits B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. It also works over the key's diatonic chords like E♭ major and F major. Use it for horn-friendly rock and jazz-pop.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 5, fret 1 keeps the scale low and accessible for beginners.
Common questions
What notes are in the B♭ major scale?
B♭ major contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, and A. The scale has two flats. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit the B♭ major scale?
B♭ major works over B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. It also fits E♭ major and F major. The seventh degree, A, leads strongly back to B♭.
What is the relative minor of B♭ major?
The relative minor of B♭ major is G minor. Both scales share the same key signature of two flats. G minor starts on the sixth degree of B♭ major.