B Minor Six Pentatonic Piano Scale
Piano scale diagramIntermediate
B Minor Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Piano, the notes are B, D, E, F#, G#. It is more sophisticated and soulful than the standard minor pentatonic and is frequently used in jazz and fusion to outline minor chords with a brighter edge. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu. Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Notes: B, D, E, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Musical Character
By replacing the b7 of the minor pentatonic with a natural 6th, this scale gains a Dorian flavor — brighter and more sophisticated than standard minor pentatonic.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B
Notable players: Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu
How to Use the B Minor Six Pentatonic Scale
Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Origin & Background
A jazz pentatonic derived from the Dorian mode, emphasizing the characteristic natural 6th.
How to Play B Minor Six Pentatonic on Piano
On piano, the B Minor Six Pentatonic scale uses 2 black keys. Start with your thumb on B and use the black keys as landmarks for consistent finger placement. Standard major or minor fingering patterns apply.
The B Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 2 sharps (F#, G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the B Minor Six Pentatonic scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in B. Try a B5 - F#5 - G#5 progression. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Piano Tips
On piano, practice the B Minor Six Pentatonic scale hands together in contrary motion (one hand ascending, the other descending). This builds independence and strengthens your awareness of the scale's symmetry. Aim for a soulful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Minor Six Pentatonic is the Dorian-flavored pentatonic subset. View B Dorian scale
The B Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (B, D, E, F#, G#). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.