B Pentatonic Minor

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

B Pentatonic Minor 2 octaves

B Pentatonic Minor scale diagram

B Pentatonic Minor full fretboard

B Pentatonic Minor scale whole guitar neck diagram

B Pentatonic Minor with note names

B Pentatonic Minor scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (7th position) with fingerings

B Pentatonic Minor scale shape 1 diagram

Shape 2 (9th position) with fingerings

B Pentatonic Minor scale shape 2 diagram

Shape 3 (11th position) with fingerings

B Pentatonic Minor scale shape 3 diagram

Shape 4 (2nd position) with fingerings

B Pentatonic Minor scale shape 4 diagram

Shape 5 (4th position) with fingerings

B Pentatonic Minor scale shape 5 diagram
Notes: B - D - E - F# - A Intervals: 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 Type: Pentatonic
Bb Pentatonic Minor scale  •  C Pentatonic Minor scale

The scale and its scale degrees.

Formula Notes
1 B
b3 D
4 E
5 F#
b7 A

The second and the sixth degrees are omitted, for the reason that the degrees are based on the natural Minor seven-note scale.

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

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

Notes (ascending) Interval
B-D m3
B-E P4
B-F# P5
B-A m7

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

Notes (descending) Interval
B-A M2
B-F# P4
B-E P5
B-D M6

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

  • Bm
  • D
  • Em7
  • F#m7
  • A5

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the B Pentatonic Minor scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (G) in Em7 and the fifth (C#) in F#m7 are not included in the scale.

Related to this scale is the B Pentatonic Minor add2, adding the 2nd degree. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 B Unison Tonic
2 C# Major second Supertonic
b3 D Minor third Mediant
4 E Perfect fourth Subdominant
5 F# Perfect fifth Dominant
b7 A Minor seventh Subtonic

The B Pentatonic Minor add2 scale, is identical with the B Minor except for missing the major 6th interval.

B Pentatonic Minor scale first shape ascending.

B Pentatonic Minor scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.