stringery

B♭ minor

Natural minor, also called aeolian. Minor family

Sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

Root position5 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. B♭RW
  2. C2H
  3. D♭♭3W
  4. E♭4W
  5. F5H
  6. G♭♭6W
  7. A♭♭7W

The flat 3rd makes it minor, and the flat 6th is what makes it sound sad rather than just dark.

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♭ minor

12345GCEA571012♭7R2♭345♭62♭345♭6♭7R25♭6♭7R2♭34R2♭345♭6♭7
12345GCEA571012♭7R2♭345♭62♭345♭6♭7R25♭6♭7R2♭34R2♭345♭6♭7

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♭ minor key

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

  1. B♭mi
  2. Cdimii°
  3. D♭III
  4. E♭miv
  5. Fmv
  6. G♭VI
  7. A♭VII

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

  • D♭ major

    Same notes, but home is D♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • E♭ dorian

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

  • A♭ mixolydian

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

  • F♯ lydian

    Same notes, but home is F♯: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • F phrygian

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