Bb Melodic Minor
B flat Melodic Minor scale for guitar.
The Bb Melodic Minor is a seven-note scale. Colored circles mark the tones in the fingerboard diagram, with darker color highlighting the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 6th fret.
Bb Melodic Minor 2 octaves
Bb Melodic Minor full fretboard
Bb Melodic Minor with note names
Shape 1 (5th position) with fingerings
Shape 2 (8th position) with fingerings
Shape 3 (10th position) with fingerings
Shape 4 (12th position) with fingerings
Shape 5 (3rd position) with fingerings
The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | C | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | Db | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | Eb | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | F | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | G | Sixth | Submediant |
| 7 | A | Major seventh | Subtonic |
The interval formula (2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.
| Notes (ascending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| Bb-C | M2 |
| Bb-Db | m3 |
| Bb-Eb | P4 |
| Bb-F | P5 |
| Bb-G | M6 |
| Bb-A | M7 |
| Notes (descending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| Bb-A | m2 |
| Bb-G | m3 |
| Bb-F | P4 |
| Bb-Eb | P5 |
| Bb-Db | M6 |
| Bb-C | m7 |
Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.
The main chords that are related to this scale are the following:
- Bbm
- Cm
- Dbaug
- Eb
- F
- Gdim
- Adim
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the Bb Melodic Minor scale in which Bbm is the tonic triad.
The B flat Melodic Minor scale consists of seven notes. These can be described as intervals, as semi-notes or steps on the guitar fingerboard, written as 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 from the first note to the next octave.
This scale has an unusual aspect: it ascends as described above but descends as the Natural Minor. For that reason, it is also known as the Ascending Melodic Minor.
The Bb Melodic Minor is one of three Bb Minor scales, the other two are Bb Natural Minor and Bb Harmonic Minor.
The scale is identical with the Major scale apart from the minor third. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as Ionian b3 scale.
If you already know the B flat Natural Minor, the equivalent Melodic Minor is distinguished with the raised sixth and seventh intervals.
Also beneficial for learning this scale is to observe the note steps, starting from the root: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole, half
Bb Melodic Minor scale first shape ascending.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.