About the B Natural Minor Scale
The B natural minor scale is a 7-note scale. Also known as Aeolian mode, sad and dark sound. Its notes are B, C#, D, E, F#, G and A, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W H W W H W W (2–1–2–2–1–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- B
B Natural Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Root |
| 2 | C# | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | D | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | E | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F# | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | G | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A | Minor 7th |
Where to play the B Natural Minor Scale on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (B) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
How to practice the natural minor scale
- Learn all 7 positions across the neck
- Practice 3-note-per-string patterns
- Work on legato runs with hammer-ons
- Play over minor progressions (i-iv-v)
- Focus on the ♭6 and ♭7 characteristic tones
Scales with the same notes as B Natural Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the B natural minor scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Other scales in B
- B Minor Pentatonic
- B Major Pentatonic
- B Mixolydian Pentatonic
- 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)