Bb Blues
B flat Blues scale for guitar.
The Bb Blues scale is a six-note scale. In the fingerboard diagrams the notes in the scale are marked out with blue circles (root notes in darker color). The scale is displayed in a two-octave pattern and in the five main fingerboard positions.
2 octaves
Shape 1 (6th position)
Shape 2 (8th position)
Shape 3 (11th position)
Shape 4 (1st position)
Shape 5 (3rd position)
Scale with extension
The scale and its scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bb |
| b3 | Db |
| 4 | Eb |
| b5 | E |
| 5 | F |
| b7 | A |
Compared to the corresponding Major scale, three notes are flatted, including the additional chromatic b5 note.
The notes in the scale can be described as steps on the guitar fingerboard according to the following formula: whole and a half, whole, half, half, whole and a half, whole from the first note to the same in the next octave.
The B flat Blues scale contains all the notes in the Bb Pentatonic Minor plus a flatted fifth, the so-called blue note. Due to the close relationship to Bbm Pentatonic, the scale is also referred to as Bbm Pentatonic Blues or Bb Minor Blues.
Notice that the Bb Pentatonic Minor Blues scale is identical with the Bb Pentatonic Minor scale except for the passing note (b5).
The "Extended" diagram shows a way to expand the scale pattern with shape one merged with parts of two adjacent shapes.
Related to this scale is the Bb Major Blues scale or Bb Pentatonic Major Blues scale. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | Unison |
| 2 | C | Major second |
| b3 | Db | Minor third |
| 3 | D | Major third |
| 5 | F | Perfect fifth |
| 6 | G | Sixth |
The Bb Pentatonic Major Blues scale is identical with the Bb Pentatonic Major, but with an added b3.
Start the audio and play along with your guitar! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo:B flat Pentatonic Minor Blues scale first shape ascending.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.