Explore scales · Guitar
B scottish pentatonic scale on guitar
B scottish pentatonic uses B, C♯, E, F♯, G♯. Box 1 spans frets 0–2 with the root on the sixth string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
How do you play the B scottish pentatonic scale on guitar?
B scottish pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 9 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the B string at fret 0.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2 | B |
| 4 (D) | 2 | E |
| 3 (G) | 1 | G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B scottish pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4 | B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 5 | C♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
B scottish pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the G string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 7 | C♯, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–9
B scottish pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 9, 10 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the D string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9 | B |
| 3 (G) | 9 | E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
B scottish pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the D string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 12 | G♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
Why it sounds like that
Raise the third D♯ of B major pentatonic to E, producing 1–2–4–5–6. The step pattern W, 1½, W, W, 1½ places a wide gap between C♯ and E. Compare with B major pentatonic to hear the suspended fourth replace the major third.
When to use it
Use it over B5 and Bsus2 chords for a suspended sound. It also fits C♯ minor and E major progressions in rock or folk. Try B 5th and E major.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 0–2 with the root on string 6, fret 7, making it easy to anchor phrases.
Common questions
What notes are in B scottish pentatonic?
The notes are B, C♯, E, F♯, and G♯. They follow the intervals 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 from the B major scale. This omits the third and seventh degrees.
Which chords work with B scottish pentatonic?
B5 and Bsus2 are the most direct fits because they avoid the third. C♯ minor and E major also work well, since they share most of the scale tones. Use it over progressions in B major or G♯ minor.
How does B scottish pentatonic differ from B major pentatonic?
B major pentatonic contains D♯, the major third. B scottish pentatonic replaces D♯ with E, the fourth. This creates a suspended sound without a third.