stringery

B♭ major

The do-re-mi scale everything else is measured against. Major family

Bright, familiar, resolved.

Root position5 of 5

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Square: the root. In colour: the major 3rd, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. B♭RW
  2. C2W
  3. D3H
  4. E♭4W
  5. F5W
  6. G6W
  7. A7H

Every step is a whole step except two half steps, after the 3rd and the 7th. That pattern is the sound of 'home' in most music you know.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB♭ major

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Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 12. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B♭ major key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. B♭I
  2. Cmii
  3. Dmiii
  4. E♭IV
  5. FV
  6. Gmvi
  7. Adimvii°

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths Capo and transpose

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • G minor

    Same notes, but home is G: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • C dorian

    Same notes, but home is C: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • F mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is F: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • E♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • D phrygian

    Same notes, but home is D: dark, spanish, menacing.