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Bb Pentatonic Scale

B flat pentatonic can mean two five-note scales. The major version is B flat, C, D, F, G; the minor version is B flat, D flat, E flat, F, A flat. The name needs a qualifier because both begin on B flat but use different notes.

  • Major: B flat-C-D-F-G
  • Minor: B flat-D flat-E flat-F-A flat
  • Five notes in either version
Hear B flat minor pentatonicminor-pentatonic
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Which notes should you use?

B flat major pentatonic takes degrees 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the B flat major scale. Its three-note tonic chord is B flat-D-F. Those notes give you a clear place to start a major-key melody.

B flat minor pentatonic uses degrees 1, flat 3, 4, 5 and flat 7. Its tonic chord is B flat-D flat-F. The two pentatonic sets share B flat and F, but the other three notes differ. When the chord is Bb minor, begin with the minor set; when it is Bb major, begin with the major set. Check longer notes against the accompaniment.

What changes at the keyboard?

D and D flat are adjacent piano keys, making the change of third especially easy to test. B flat and F stay fixed.

A five-note set leaves gaps compared with a seven-note scale. Neither common major nor common minor pentatonic version has a half step between adjacent scale notes. That gives you room to build small phrases, although it does not guarantee that every note fits every chord. Pentatonic and Blues Scales explains the two formulas and their limits.

Try a comparison

Play B flat-D-F, then B flat-D flat-F as chords before running either five-note scale. The chords tell your ear what to listen for in the longer line.

For an added passing note in the minor set, continue to Bb Blues Scale.

Keep going

Every pentatonic and blues scale

Open pentatonic and blues scales