B Minor Six Diminished Guitar Scale — Drop C
Guitar scale in Drop C tuning — fretboard diagram
B Minor Six Diminished in Drop C — Notes and Intervals
The B Minor Six Diminished scale is a sophisticated jazz scale popularized by the Barry Harris method. On Guitar, 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
Tuning: Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)
About Drop C Tuning
Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) drops every string one whole step below Drop D, delivering a massive, brutal low-end that has defined the sound of modern metalcore, post-hardcore, and nu-metal. The low C string provides earth-shaking power chords with a single finger while maintaining familiar Drop D shapes — just two frets lower.
From System of a Down's iconic riffs to Killswitch Engage's crushing breakdowns, Drop C has become the standard tuning for heavy music that needs to sound bigger than standard Drop D. It bridges the gap between standard guitar territory and the extended range of 7-string guitars, making it accessible to players who want heavier tones without buying a new instrument.
Notable artists: System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red
Best for: Modern metalcore breakdowns, heavy power chord riffs, nu-metal grooves, and aggressive rhythm playing
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- B Minor Six Diminished in Standard Tuning
- B Minor Six Diminished in Drop D
- B Minor Six Diminished in DADGAD
- B Minor Six Diminished in Open G
- B Minor Six Diminished in Baritone (B Standard)
- B Minor Six Diminished in 7-string
- B Minor Six Diminished in 8-string
- B Minor Six Diminished in Drop B
- B Minor Six Diminished in Open D
- B Minor Six Diminished in Half Step Down
- B Minor Six Diminished in Open E
- B Minor Six Diminished in Open A
- B Minor Six Diminished in Double Drop D
- B Minor Six Diminished in Open C