It is good that you have decided to learn to play the scales on the guitar. They enhance your knowledge of the keys and develop your skills to improvise or go in for the songwriting etc.
In this article, we will cover the music theory behind the B Flat minor scale, its intervals, notes, chords, relative and parallel majors, patterns on the fretboard, how to play them, the guitar tabs, and other relevant information.
Read the complete article to know about the B Flat natural minor scale thoroughly!
Introduction To B Flat Minor scale
B-flat minor is traditionally a ‘dark’ key. As per Ernst Pauer, B Flat Minor is a “key full of gloomy and somber feeling, like E flat minor.” Some other characteristics associated with the key are
- It is somewhat surly and very seldom takes on a pleasant countenance.
- Turning away the world and the divine.
- Preparations for the end.
- Pessimism and giving up.
- Belief in darkness.
The Piano Concerto No. 1, by Tchaikovsky, is in Bb Minor, though you don’t find anything by Mozart in this key. The list of symphonies in the key is attached here.
B Flat Minor Scale Notes
The notes any natural minor scale are given by the formula {W H W W H W W}:
- 1st Note – Root – Bb
- 2nd Note – M2 – C
- 3rd Note – m3 – Db
- 4th Note – P4 – Eb
- 5th Note – P5 – F
- 6th Note – m6 – Gb
- 7th Note – m7 – Ab
Hence the notes of the B Flat Minor scale are {Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb(O)}, where Bb(O) is the Bb note one octave higher than the root.
The key signature of the Bb minor scale has five flat notes. Playing it on a piano keyboard requires two white and five black keys.
Diagram
B flat Harmonic minor scale has notes {Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, and Bb(O)}.
B flat Melodic minor scale (ascending) are: {Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A, and Bb(O)}.
Scale Degrees
| Intervals | Root | M2 | m3 | P4 | P5 | m6 | m7 | P8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale Degrees | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1(8) |
| Natural Minor | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb(O) |
| Harmonic Minor | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | Gb | A | Bb(O) |
| Melodic Minor | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | G | A | Bb(O) |
B Flat Natural Minor Scale On The Treble And Bass Clef:
Treble Clef:
Bass Clef:
B Flat Minor Scale Guitar Positions
Linked CAGED Patterns.
The Bb Flat Minor scale exists in a straight line on the A string.
Five CAGED Patterns
Guitar Tabs For The CAGED Patterns
E Shaped Scale Pattern
D Shaped Pattern
C Shaped Pattern
A Shaped Pattern
G Shaped Pattern
Fingering Arrangement For Scale Patterns
Diagram
The Chords Of The B Flat Minor Key
| Scale Degrees | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chord Designation | i | iidim | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
| Chord Names | Bbm | Cdim | Db | Ebm | Fm | Gb | Ab |
| Chord Quality | minor | diminished | Major | minor | minor | Major | Major |
The following triad chords result from the B Flat minor scale.
- Three Major chords – III, VI, and VII – Db, Gb, and Ab Major chords.
- Three minor chords – i, iv, and v – Bbm, Ebm, and Fm.
- One diminished chord, the ii°, Cdim.
- Dominant Chord – F major formed from the 5th scale degree of the Bb Harmonic Minor scale.
Note Names In These Triad Chords.
| Scale Degrees | Intervals | Chord Notes | Chord Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R – Bb – m3 – Db – M3 – F | Bb – Db – F | Bbm |
| 2 | R – C – m3 – Eb – m3 – Gb | C – Eb – Gb | Cdim |
| 3 | R – Db – M3 – F – m3 – Bb | Db – F – Bb | Db |
| 4 | R – Eb – m3 – Gb – M3 – Bb | Eb – Gb – Bb | Ebm |
| 5 | R – F – m3 – Ab – M3 – C | F – Ab – C | Fm |
| 6 | R – Gb – M3 – Bb – m3 – Db | Gb – Bb – Db | Gb |
| 7 | R – Ab – M3 – C – m3 – Eb | Ab – C – Eb | Ab |
7th Chords Of B Flat Minor Scale
| Scale Degrees | Chord Name | Roman N Designation | Chord Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bbm7 | im7 | Bb - Db - F - Ab |
| 2 | Cm7b5 | iiø7 | C - Eb - Gb - Bb |
| 3 | DbMaj7 | IIIM7 | Db - F - Ab - C |
| 4 | Ebm7 | ivm7 | Eb - Gb - Bb - Db |
| 5 | Fm7 | vm7 | F – Ab – C - Eb |
| 6 | GbMaj7 | VIM7 | Gb – Bb – Db - F |
| 7 | Ab7 | VII7 | Ab – C – Eb - Gb |
Relative & Parallel Minor Of B Flat Minor
Relative Major Key: Db Major Scale {Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, and C}. Relative major and minor scales have the same notes.
Parallel scale: B Flat Major scale {Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, & A}. Its key signature has two flats.
Enharmonic equivalent: A Sharp Minor Scale {A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯}. Its key signature has seven sharp notes.
The Modes Of The B Flat Minor Scale
The following are the modes of B Flat Minor:
- Bb Aeolian (Minor)
- C Locrian (Minor)
- Db Ionian (Major)
- Eb Dorian (Minor)
- F Phrygian (Minor)
- Gb Lydian (Major)
- Ab Mixolydian (Major)
Songs In The Key Of B Flat Minor
Some of the popular songs in the key of E Flat Major Scale are:
- “Waiting for Tonight” by Jennifer Lopez.
- “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran.
- “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira.
- “Rapture (Avicii Remix)” by Nadia Ali.
- “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers.
- “Heartless” by Kanye West.
- “Here Without You” – Three Doors Down (verses).
- “Fast love” by George Michael.
- “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John.
- “So Emotional” by Christina Aguilera.
Conclusion
So, you have received a great amount of information on the B Flat Natural Minor Scale. We urge you to put in a practice routine to master it. Write to us in the section below if you have any comments or need any additional clarifications.
