Guitar scales · Major (Ionian)
B major scale on guitar
The B major scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Notes and pattern
The B major scale
The reference scale. Bright and resolved; every other scale is described against it. Play it to hear it up and down.
From note to note it climbs 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 1 The metal strips across the neck, and the spaces between them. Each fret raises a string by one half step.: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
B major has the same notes as G♯ minor, starting from B. See that scale.
- B1
- C♯2
- D♯3
- E4
- F♯5
- G♯6
- A♯7
- B, the root
- Other scale notes
Positions
B major in five positions
The A way of mapping the fretboard with the five open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D, moved up the neck to play any chord. splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per A chord played near the nut that uses some unfretted strings, such as the open G, C or Em. shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.
B major · the whole neck
Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.
- Root (B)
- Scale tone
Chords
Chords from the B major scale
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.
Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work
Hear the chords and progressions in B majorSame root
Other scales on B
Change a note or two and the same The note a chord is named after and built up from. C is the root of C, Cm and C7. takes on a new mood.
Questions
B major, in short
- What notes are in the B major scale?
- The B major scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
- What chords go with the B major scale?
- The chords built on B major are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯°.
- What is the relative minor of B major?
- B major has the same notes as G♯ minor, starting from B.