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Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

B minor pentatonic scale on guitar

The B minor has five notes: B, D, E, F♯ and A. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The B minor pentatonic scale

The first scale most guitarists learn: the backbone of blues and rock soloing. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 3, 2, 2, 3 and 2 : there are no , which is why it is so hard to hit a wrong note.

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

  1. B1
  2. D♭3
  3. E4
  4. F♯5
  5. A♭7
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBEF♯ADEF♯ADEF♯ADEF♯ADEADEF♯ADEF♯ADEF♯ADEF♯
  • B, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

B minor pentatonic in five positions

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

Box 1 starts at 7, with the , B, under your first finger on the low E string.

B minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 7–10. The Bm chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215BBBF♯DF♯DEAEAD
  • Root (B)
  • Chord shape
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play B minor pentatonic over

Play it over songs in B minor or D major, and over a 12-bar blues in B (B7, E7 and F♯7).

Same root

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

Questions

B minor pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the B minor pentatonic scale?
The B minor has five notes: B, D, E, F♯ and A. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.
What chords go with the B minor pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in B minor or D major, and over a 12-bar blues in B (B7, E7 and F♯7).
What is the relative major of B minor pentatonic?
B minor pentatonic has the same notes as D major pentatonic, starting from B.
All guitar scales