About the B Whole Tone Scale
The B whole tone scale is a 6-note scale. All whole steps, dreamy and unresolved sound. Its notes are B, C#, D#, F, G and A, built from the formula 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- B – C# – D# – F – G – A
- Formula
- 1 2 3 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W W W W W W (2–2–2–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- B
B Whole Tone Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Root |
| 2 | C# | Major 2nd |
| 3 | D# | Major 3rd |
| ♭5 | F | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | G | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A | Minor 7th |
Where to play the B Whole Tone 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, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
How to practice the whole tone scale
- Practice the even whole-step pattern
- Use over augmented and 7#5 chords
- Work on Debussy-inspired voicings
- Try creating tension before resolution
- Experiment with augmented triads within
Scales with the same notes as B Whole Tone Scale
These scales share every note with the B whole tone scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Whole Tone scale in other keys
Other scales in B
- B Minor Pentatonic
- B Major 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 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)