B Flat Three Pentatonic Guitar Scale

B Flat Three Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals

The B Flat Three Pentatonic scale is a relatively rare jazz pentatonic scale. On Guitar, it contains the notes B, C#, D, F#, G#. It is an effective tool for navigating blues changes, providing a unique way to differentiate between the different chords of a progression with a quirky, minor-key twist. Commonly used in Jazz, Blues, Experimental. Notable players include Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter. Use over m7, m7b5 chords. Effective for differentiating chords within a blues progression.

Notes: B, C#, D, F#, G#

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 5P, 6M

Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5

Formula: W-H-4-W-WH

Number of notes: 5

Also known as: kumoi

How to Play B Flat Three Pentatonic on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 7 on the 6th (low E) to find your B root note. With only 5 notes, this scale fits comfortably in a two-notes-per-string pattern across all six strings. Focus on learning a single box shape first before connecting positions.

The B Flat Three Pentatonic scale contains 3 sharps (C#, F#, G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.

Practice Routine

Begin by playing the B Flat Three Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (B-D, C#-F#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.

This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in B. Try a B5 - F#5 - G#5 progression.

Guitar Tips

Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the B Flat Three Pentatonic scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.

The B Flat Three Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (B, C#, D, F#, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Flat Three Pentatonic

The B Flat Three Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore B Flat Three Pentatonic Further

• Harmonize the B Flat Three Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• B Flat Three Pentatonic on Ukulele
• B Flat Three Pentatonic on Bass
• B Flat Three Pentatonic on Piano

Explore B Flat Three Pentatonic in Other Tunings

• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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