B Minor Six Diminished Piano Scale
Piano scale diagram
B Minor Six Diminished Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Minor Six Diminished scale is a sophisticated jazz scale popularized by the Barry Harris method. On Piano, its notes are B, C#, D, E, F#, G, G#, A#. It is the secret to professional voice leading in bebop, allowing for smooth, elegant movements between minor chords and their related tensions. Commonly used in Jazz, Bebop, Swing. Notable players include Barry Harris, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell. Use over m6 chords and their related dim7 chords. The scale alternates between chord tones and diminished passing tones, creating seamless bebop voice leading.
Notes: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, G#, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-H-W-H
Number of notes: 8
How to Play B Minor Six Diminished on Piano
On piano, the B Minor Six Diminished scale uses 4 black keys. With several black keys involved, let the thumb naturally fall on white keys where possible. Practice hands separately at first, paying attention to smooth thumb-under transitions.
The B Minor Six Diminished 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
Practice the B Minor Six Diminished scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 8 notes of the scale.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Six Diminished scale come through clearly.
Piano Tips
At the piano, try voicing the B Minor Six Diminished scale in the left hand as blocked intervals (thirds or sixths) while the right hand plays the melody. This develops your harmonic ear and comping skills simultaneously.
The B Minor Six Diminished scale contains 8 notes (B, C#, D, E, F#, G, G#, A#). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.