Bb Major Pentatonic Scale Guide
The Bb major pentatonic scale is Bb, C, D, F and G, and it also answers to A# major pentatonic. Bb is a standard key for horn sections, so this scale comes up often when you play with a band.
The root is on the 1st fret of the A string, where the box is closest to the nut, and on the 6th fret of the low E string. G minor pentatonic uses the same notes.
Play the Bb major pentatonic scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Bb major pentatonic scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 1 | Root | 0 |
| C | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| D | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| F | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| G | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
Structure
Bb major pentatonic scale notes:
How the major pentatonic scale is built:
The major pentatonic scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 5 6, which gives the step pattern W-W-W+H-W-W+H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 7, 9. That makes it a 5-note scale.
Bb Major Pentatonic Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
The major pentatonic scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
