Explore scales · Guitar
B♭ whole-half scale on guitar
B♭ whole-half scale contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, E, F♯, G, and A. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 6 for a low, dark position.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ whole-half scale on guitar?
B♭ whole-half in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E 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, 2, 3 | E, F♯, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | A, B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, E |
| 3 (G) | 0, 2, 3 | G, A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2, 3 | E, F♯, G |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B♭ whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 17 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ 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, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4, 5 | E, F♯, G |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | A, B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 5 | D♭, E♭, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 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) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, E, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 8 | F♯, G |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ whole-half in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 17 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, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 10 | F♯, G |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, E, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10, 11 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ whole-half in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 17 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. 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, 12, 14 | E♭, E, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, E |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | F♯, G, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, E, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ whole-half alternates whole and half steps from B♭: W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H. It shares six notes with B♭ bebop melodic minor, differing only in the fifth degree. The scale includes a tritone and a leading tone, giving it strong tension.
When to use it
B♭ whole-half fits diminished chords like B♭ diminished and B♭ diminished 7th. It also works over C major or C minor progressions. Use it for dark, tense lines in jazz or metal.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 6, and the range 2–6 keeps the stretch manageable. It sets up Box 2 by moving the root to string 4, fret 8.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ whole-half?
B♭ whole-half scale contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, E, F♯, G, and A. The pattern alternates whole and half steps. It is also called B♭ diminished scale. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit B♭ whole-half?
B♭ whole-half works over B♭ diminished and B♭ diminished 7th chords. It also fits C major and C minor chords. The scale's tritone and leading tone create strong resolution.
How does B♭ whole-half differ from B♭ bebop melodic minor?
B♭ whole-half and B♭ bebop melodic minor share six notes. The whole-half scale has E and F♯ instead of F and G♭. This changes the fifth degree and adds a tritone.