B Pentatonic Major

B Pentatonic scale for guitar.
The B Pentatonic Major is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the scale notes. Darker color marks the root notes, which are B tones. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 7th fret.

B Pentatonic Major 2 octaves

B Pentatonic Major scale diagram

B Pentatonic Major full fretboard

B Pentatonic Major scale whole guitar neck diagram

B Pentatonic Major with note names

B Pentatonic Major scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (6th position)

B Pentatonic Major scale shape diagram 6th pos

Shape 5 (4th position)

B Pentatonic Major scale shape diagram 4th pos
Notes: B - C# - D# - F# - G# Intervals: 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 Type: Pentatonic
Bb Pentatonic Major scale  •  C Pentatonic Major scale

The scale and its scale degrees.

Formula Notes
1 B
2 C#
3 D#
5 F#
6 G#

The fourth degree is omitted, as well as the seventh, since the degrees are based on the regular Major seven-note scale.

The interval formula (2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending) Interval
B-C# M2
B-D# M3
B-F# P5
B-G# M6
Notes (descending) Interval
B-G# m3
B-F# P4
B-D# m6
B-C# m7

Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.

The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The B Pentatonic Major is relative to G# Pentatonic Minor. Both scales include the same notes but with different root notes.

Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:

  • B
  • C#m7
  • D#m7
  • F#sus4
  • G#m

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the B Pentatonic Major scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (E) in C#m7 and the fifth (A#) in D#m7 are not included in the scale.

Related to this scale is the B Pentatonic Major add4, adding the 4th degree. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 B Unison Tonic
2 C# Major second Supertonic
3 D# Major third Mediant
4 E Perfect fourth Subdominant
5 F# Perfect fifth Dominant
6 G# Sixth Submediant

The B Pentatonic Major add4 scale, is identical with the B Major except for missing the major 7th interval.

Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo:
Slow tempo:

B Pentatonic Major scale first shape ascending.

B Pentatonic Major scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.