Skip to content

Guitar scales · Natural minor (Aeolian)

B minor scale on guitar

The B minor 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 minor scale

The of a major key: same notes, starting on the 6th degree. Play it to hear it up and down.

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

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

  1. B1
  2. C♯2
  3. D♭3
  4. E4
  5. F♯5
  6. G♭6
  7. A♭7
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GADEF♯GAC♯DEGAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯G
  • B, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

B minor in five positions

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

B minor · the whole neck

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

CCAGEEDDEADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GADEF♯GAC♯DEGAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯GAC♯DEF♯G
  • Root (B)
  • Scale tone

Chords

Chords from the B minor 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 minor

Same root

Other scales on B

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

Questions

B minor, in short

What notes are in the B minor scale?
The B minor 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 minor scale?
The chords built on B minor are Bm, C♯°, D, Em, F♯m, G and A.
What is the relative major of B minor?
B minor has the same notes as D major, starting from B.
All guitar scales