Explore scales · Guitar
B♭ minor pentatonic scale on guitar
B♭ minor pentatonic contains B♭, D♭, E♭, F, and A♭. Box 1 at frets 1–4 places the root on string 6, fret 6 for a low, dark start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ minor pentatonic scale on guitar?
B♭ minor pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 12 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, 4 | F, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 4 | B♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 4 | F, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–6
B♭ minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 6, 10 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) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6 | A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6 | D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 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, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 9 | F, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–11
B♭ minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 11, 9 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11 | A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11 | D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10 | F |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ minor pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 11 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 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) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 13 | A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 14 | B♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ minor pentatonic removes the 2nd and 6th from B♭ natural minor, leaving 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. Add the ♭5 to get B♭ blues minor. The step pattern is 1½, W, W, 1½, W.
When to use it
B♭ minor pentatonic fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. Use it over B♭ minor, C♯ major, and E♭ 5th progressions in rock and blues. The A♭ note also works over A♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 1–4 with the root on string 6, fret 6, giving a low, dark foundation for blues lines.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ minor pentatonic?
B♭ minor pentatonic contains B♭, D♭, E♭, F, and A♭. The intervals are 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. It omits the 2nd and 6th from B♭ natural minor. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit B♭ minor pentatonic?
B♭ minor pentatonic fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. It also works over C♯ major and E♭ 5th. The A♭ note allows A♭ 5th in some contexts.
How is B♭ minor pentatonic different from B♭ blues minor?
B♭ blues minor adds a ♭5 (F♭) to B♭ minor pentatonic. The pentatonic has five notes; the blues has six. The extra note creates chromatic passing motion.