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Guitar scales · Major (Ionian)

B♭ major scale on guitar (Bb major)

The B♭ major scale has seven notes: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G and A. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Notes and pattern

The B♭ major scale

The reference scale. Bright and resolved; every other scale is described against it. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 1 : whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

B♭ major has the same notes as G minor, starting from B♭. See that scale.

  1. B♭1
  2. C2
  3. D3
  4. E♭4
  5. F5
  6. G6
  7. A7
EADGBE0135791215B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDFGACDE♭FG
  • B♭, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

B♭ major in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

B♭ major · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

AAGGEDCCEADGBE0135791215B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭B♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDE♭FGACDFGACDE♭FG
  • Root (B♭)
  • Scale tone

Chords

Chords from the B♭ major scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Hear the chords and progressions in B♭ major

Same root

Other scales on B♭

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

B♭ major, in short

What notes are in the B♭ major scale?
The B♭ major scale has seven notes: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G and A. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
What chords go with the B♭ major scale?
The chords built on B♭ major are B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm and A°.
What is the relative minor of B♭ major?
B♭ major has the same notes as G minor, starting from B♭.
All guitar scales