B Messiaen's Mode #7 Guitar Scale

Guitar scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced

What chords fit over B Messiaen's Mode #7?

B Messiaen's Mode #7 Scale — Notes and Intervals

The B Messiaen's Mode #7 scale is a nearly-chromatic scale that serves as the parent for many other symmetrical systems. On Guitar, the notes are B, C, C#, D, E, F, F#, G, G#, A#. It represents divine authority and the vast, complex forces of the universe in Messiaen's musical language. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen. Use in complex, multi-layered compositions. Its near-chromatic density provides maximum harmonic flexibility.

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

Intervals: 1P, 2m, 2M, 3m, 4P, 4A, 5P, 6m, 6M, 7M

Degrees: 1 b2 3 b4 5 #6 7 b8 9 10

Formula: H-H-H-W-H-H-H-H-W-H

Number of notes: 10

Musical Character

ComplexAll-EncompassingDenseUniversal

A nearly-chromatic scale that serves as the parent for many other symmetrical systems. Represents 'divine authority and the vast forces of the universe' in Messiaen's musical theology.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Contemporary Classical, Experimental, Avant-Garde

Notable players: Olivier Messiaen

How to Use the B Messiaen's Mode #7 Scale

Use in complex, multi-layered compositions. Its near-chromatic density provides maximum harmonic flexibility.

Origin & Background

The most complex of Messiaen's modes, representing the fullness of divine creation in his musical-theological system.

How to Play B Messiaen's Mode #7 on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 7 on the 6th (low E) to find your B root note. Because this scale has 10 notes, four-notes-per-string stretches may be necessary. Start with a single position and expand gradually. Keep your thumb centered behind the neck for reach.

The B Messiaen's Mode #7 scale contains 4 sharps (C#, F#, G#, A#). 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 Messiaen's Mode #7 scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (B-C#, C-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.

Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Messiaen's Mode #7 scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in contemporary classical contexts.

Guitar Tips

Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the B Messiaen's Mode #7 scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently. Aim for a complex quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

The B Messiaen's Mode #7 scale contains 10 notes (B, C, C#, D, E, F, F#, G, G#, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Messiaen's Mode #7

The B Messiaen's Mode #7 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 10-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore B Messiaen's Mode #7 Further

Explore B Messiaen's Mode #7 in Other Tunings

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