About the B Major Pentatonic Scale
The B major pentatonic scale is a 5-note scale. Bright and happy sound, great for country and pop. Its notes are B, C#, D#, F# and G#, built from the formula 1 2 3 5 6.
- Notes
- B – C# – D# – F# – G#
- Formula
- 1 2 3 5 6
- Steps
- W W W+H W W+H (2–2–3–2–3 semitones)
- Root
- B
B Major Pentatonic Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Root |
| 2 | C# | Major 2nd |
| 3 | D# | Major 3rd |
| 5 | F# | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | G# | Major 6th |
Where to play the B Major Pentatonic Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (B) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 |
| A1 | 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 |
| D2 | 1, 4, 6, 9, 11 |
| G2 | 1, 4, 6, 8, 11 |
How to practice the major pentatonic scale
- Practice country-style double stops
- Work on hybrid picking patterns
- Try sliding between positions
- Play over major chord progressions
- Mix with minor pentatonic for variety
Scales with the same notes as B Major Pentatonic Scale
These scales share every note with the B major pentatonic scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major Pentatonic scale in other keys
Other scales in B
- B Minor Pentatonic
- B Mixolydian Pentatonic
- B Natural Minor
- B Major (Ionian)
- B Blues
- B Dorian
- B Mixolydian
- B Phrygian
- B Harmonic Minor
- B Lydian
- B Locrian
- B Diminished (Half-Whole)
- B Diminished (Whole-Half)
- B Whole Tone
- B Augmented (Hexatonic)
- B Altered (Super Locrian)
- B Phrygian Dominant
- B Lydian Dominant
- B Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- B Bebop Dominant
- B Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- B Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)