B major scale on mandolin
The B major scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯ (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | B | C♯ | D♯ | E | F♯ | G♯ | A♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
3 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the B major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; B (B) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (B) | Bhome | Bmaj7home |
| 2 (C♯) | C♯mrestless | C♯m7restless |
| 3 (D♯) | D♯mhalf-light | D♯m7half-light |
| 4 (E) | Ethe door | Emaj7the door |
| 5 (F♯) | F♯the pull | F♯7the pull |
| 6 (G♯) | G♯mthe shadow | G♯m7the shadow |
| 7 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the G♯ minor scale: the same notes, started from G♯.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of B major.
Questions
What notes are in the B major scale?
B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the B major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯dim, and as seventh chords Bmaj7, C♯m7, D♯m7, Emaj7, F♯7, G♯m7 and A♯m7♭5. B is home: B is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the B major scale?
The G♯ minor scale, which has the same notes started from G♯.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in B
B minorB minor pentatonicB major pentatonicB bluesB DorianB MixolydianB LydianB PhrygianB harmonic minorB melodic minorB Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.