G Minor Six Pentatonic Guitar Scale — Drop B
Guitar scale in Drop B tuning — fretboard diagram
G Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop B — Notes and Intervals
The G Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Guitar, the notes are G, Bb, C, D, E. 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: G, Bb, C, D, E
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)
About Drop B Tuning
Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) takes the guitar into territory traditionally reserved for 7-string instruments, delivering a subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest. This tuning has become essential in modern extreme metal, deathcore, and djent, where low-end clarity and rhythmic precision are paramount.
Drop B represents the practical limit of what a standard 6-string guitar can handle before tone quality degrades. With the right string gauge (12-60 or heavier) and proper setup, it delivers the crushing lows of a 7-string while keeping the familiar 6-string layout. Bands like Architects, Periphery (on some tracks), and Parkway Drive have used Drop B to create some of the heaviest riffs in modern metal.
Notable artists: Architects, Parkway Drive, Whitechapel, Born of Osiris, Emmure
Best for: Extreme metal riffs, deathcore breakdowns, djent chugs, and any style demanding the lowest possible 6-string tuning
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop D
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in DADGAD
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Open G
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in 7-string
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in 8-string
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop C
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Open D
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Half Step Down
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Open E
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Open A
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Double Drop D
- G Minor Six Pentatonic in Open C