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B♭ neutral pentatonic scale on guitar
B♭ neutral pentatonic contains B♭, C, E♭, F, and A♭. Box 2 places the root on string 6, fret 6 for a mid-neck shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ neutral pentatonic scale on guitar?
B♭ neutral 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, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 4 | C, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 4 | F, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–6
B♭ neutral pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 6, 9 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) | 6 | E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6 | A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5 | C |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ neutral pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 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) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8 | E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 9 | F, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ neutral pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 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, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 11 | F, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–13
B♭ neutral pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 13, 10 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) | 13 | E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 13 | A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ neutral pentatonic is built from B♭ minor pentatonic by raising the ♭3 to a major 2nd, giving intervals 1, 2, 4, 5, ♭7. Compare it with B♭ minor pentatonic to hear the change. The scale contains no tritone or leading tone. Its step pattern is W, 1½, W, 1½, W.
When to use it
B♭ neutral pentatonic fits B♭ 5th and B♭ suspended 2nd chords, plus E♭ 5th and F minor. Use it for modal rock or world music lines in B♭. The scale also works over A♭ major for a suspended colour.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 2 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 6 and covers frets 4–6, making it easy to shift to Box 3.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ neutral pentatonic?
B♭ neutral pentatonic contains B♭, C, E♭, F, and A♭. The intervals are 1, 2, 4, 5, and ♭7. It has no tritone or leading tone. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ neutral pentatonic fit?
B♭ neutral pentatonic fits B♭ 5th and B♭ suspended 2nd chords. It also works over E♭ 5th and F minor. The scale avoids the third, so it suits open fifth chords.
How is B♭ neutral pentatonic different from B♭ minor pentatonic?
B♭ neutral pentatonic raises the minor third of B♭ minor pentatonic to a major second. This removes the minor quality and creates a suspended sound. The note C replaces D♭.
What is the step pattern of B♭ neutral pentatonic?
The step pattern is whole, one and a half, whole, one and a half, whole. This gives the scale its neutral, open character. It is also known as Egyptian or Shang.