B Blues Diminished Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

B1C♭2D♭3D♯3F♭5F♯5G♯6A♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

B1B Major B Minor B 5th B 7th B Minor 7th B 7th Flat 5 B Minor 7th Flat 5th B 6th B Minor 6th B Diminished B Diminished 7th
C♭2C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Diminished Major 7th
D♭3D Major D Minor D 5th D 7th D Minor 7th D 7th Flat 5 D Minor 7th Flat 5th D 6th D Minor 6th D Diminished D Diminished 7th
D♯3E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th E♭ Diminished Major 7th
F♭5F Major F Minor F 5th F 7th F Minor 7th F 7th Flat 5 F Minor 7th Flat 5th F 6th F Minor 6th F Diminished F Diminished 7th
F♯5F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th F♯ Diminished Major 7th
G♯6A♭ Major A♭ Minor A♭ 5th A♭ 7th A♭ Minor 7th A♭ 7th Flat 5 A♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th A♭ 6th A♭ Minor 6th A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th
A♭7A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th

How do you play the B blues diminished scale on ukulele?

B blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	1, 2	G♯, A
3 (C)	0, 2, 3	C, D, D♯
2 (E)	1, 2	F, F♯
1 (A)	0, 2, 3	A, B, C

Box 2 · frets 2–5

B blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 4 and the A string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	2, 4, 5	A, B, C
3 (C)	2, 3, 5	D, D♯, F
2 (E)	2, 4, 5	F♯, G♯, A
1 (A)	2, 3, 5	B, C, D

Box 3 · frets 5–8

B blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 12 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	5, 7, 8	C, D, D♯
3 (C)	5, 6, 8	F, F♯, G♯
2 (E)	5, 7, 8	A, B, C
1 (A)	5, 6, 8	D, D♯, F

Box 4 · frets 8–11

B blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the C string at fret 8 up to G♯ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the C string at fret 11.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	8, 10, 11	D♯, F, F♯
3 (C)	8, 9, 11	G♯, A, B
2 (E)	8, 10, 11	C, D, D♯
1 (A)	8, 9, 11	F, F♯, G♯

Why it sounds like that

B blues diminished is the eight-note half-whole pattern: H, W, H, W, H, W, H, W. It adds a ♭2 to B hungarian major, keeping the ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, and ♭7. The scale contains a tritone between B and F, but no leading tone.

When to use it

B blues diminished fits B major and B minor chords, adding a ♭2 and ♭5 for tension. Use it over blues, jazz, and funk progressions in B. The scale also works over diminished chords built on C, D♯, F♯, and A.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 0–3 and keeps the root under the first finger on string 4.

Common questions

What notes are in B blues diminished?

B blues diminished contains B, C, D, D♯, F, F♯, G♯, and A. The scale has eight notes. It includes both a minor third and a major third.

Which chords does B blues diminished fit?

B blues diminished fits B major and B minor chords. It also works over C, D♯, F♯, and A diminished chords. The scale adds chromatic tension to blues progressions.

Is B blues diminished the same as B diminished?

No. B blues diminished has eight notes, while B diminished has seven. The blues diminished scale adds a major third and a major sixth.