Explore scales · Ukulele
B♭ scottish pentatonic scale on ukulele
B♭ Scottish pentatonic uses B♭, C, E♭, F, G. Box 2 places the root on string 4, fret 3 and string 2, fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
How do you play the B♭ scottish pentatonic scale on ukulele?
B♭ scottish pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 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 G string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 0, 3 | G, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 3 | C, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 1 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ scottish pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 3 and the E string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 3 (C) | 3, 5 | E♭, F |
| 2 (E) | 3, 6 | G, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 6 | C, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
B♭ scottish pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 8 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 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5, 8 | C, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 7 | F, G |
| 2 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 1 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
Start from B♭ major pentatonic and raise the third D to E♭. The resulting intervals are 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 with steps W, 1½, W, W, 1½. This removes the major third for a suspended feel. See B♭ major pentatonic for contrast.
When to use it
Use it over B♭5 or B♭sus2 to keep the harmony open. The E♭ and F give a suspended colour that fits Celtic rock and folk. Try B♭ 5th or B♭ suspended 2nd.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 2 first: the root sits on string 4, fret 3 and string 2, fret 6, covering frets 3–6. It gives you the scale across two octaves.
Common questions
Which notes are in B♭ Scottish pentatonic?
The notes are B♭, C, E♭, F, and G. They follow the pattern 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. The third is omitted, creating a suspended sound. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords work with B♭ Scottish pentatonic?
B♭5 and B♭sus2 work well because they avoid the third. You can also use C minor and E♭ major for movement. The scale fits over modal vamps.
How is this different from B♭ major pentatonic?
B♭ major pentatonic has D as the third. Scottish pentatonic raises that to E♭, the fourth. This changes the interval pattern and removes the major third.