B minor scale on guitar
The B minor scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7). The plain minor scale: the minor pentatonic with the 2nd and ♭6 filled in. Sad or serious, and the home of minor-key rock and metal, over changes like Am, F and G.
| Note | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | whole | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the B minor scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; B (Bm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (B) | Bmhome | Bm7home |
| 2 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | C♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (D) | Ddaylight | Dmaj7daylight |
| 4 (E) | Emsoft fall | Em7soft fall |
| 5 (F♯) | F♯msoft fall | F♯m7soft fall |
| ♭6 (G) | Gcinematic | Gmaj7cinematic |
| ♭7 (A) | Aheroic | A7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative major is the D major scale: the same notes, started from D.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of B minor.
Questions
What notes are in the B minor 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 H W W H W W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the B minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Bm, C♯dim, D, Em, F♯m, G and A, and as seventh chords Bm7, C♯m7♭5, Dmaj7, Em7, F♯m7, Gmaj7 and A7. B is home: Bm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative major of the B minor scale?
The D major scale, which has the same notes started from D.
The minor scale in every key
Other scales in B
B majorB 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: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.