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. BRW
  2. C♯2H
  3. D♭3W
  4. E4W
  5. F♯5H
  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♭6♭7R2♭345♭62♭345♭6♭7R45♭6♭7R2♭34♭7R2♭345♭6♭7
12345GCEA571012♭6♭7R2♭345♭62♭345♭6♭7R45♭6♭7R2♭34♭7R2♭345♭6♭7

Position 5 is outlined, frets 11 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. Bmi
  2. C♯dimii°
  3. DIII
  4. Emiv
  5. F♯mv
  6. GVI
  7. AVII

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.

  • G lydian

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

  • F♯ phrygian

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