B♭ blues scale on guitar
The B♭ blues scale has 6 notes: B♭, D♭, E♭, E, F and A♭. The minor pentatonic with one extra note, the flat 5th (the “blue note”). Use it as a passing note between the 4th and 5th for that instantly bluesy sound.
Notes in B♭ blues
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
- Step pattern
- W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W
- Notes
- 6
Tap a note to hear it.
B♭ blues across the neck
Every B♭ blues note on the first 12 frets in standard tuning. Filled dots are the root, B♭. A good place to start: B♭ on the low E string is at fret 6, so play the notes between frets 5 and 9 first, then move up the neck.
Intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval from B♭ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | Root |
| ♭3 | D♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | E♭ | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | E | Flat 5th |
| 5 | F | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | A♭ | Minor 7th |
Chords to play B♭ blues over
The B♭ blues scale fits the main chords of the B♭ minor key:
It is also the classic choice over a twelve-bar blues in B♭: B♭7, E♭7, F7.
Related scales
- Take away the ♭5 and you are back to B♭ minor pentatonic.
- Over a twelve-bar blues in B♭, players often mix it with B♭ major pentatonic for a sweeter sound.
Questions
What notes are in the B♭ blues scale?
B♭, D♭, E♭, E, F, A♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
Where do I start the B♭ blues scale on guitar?
B♭ on the low E string is at fret 6, so play the notes between frets 5 and 9 first. The fretboard map on this page shows every B♭ blues note on the first 12 frets.
What scales are related to B♭ blues?
Take away the ♭5 and you are back to B♭ minor pentatonic.
More scales
Blues in every key
Other scales from B♭