B Major Pentatonic Scale: Notes and How to Play It

The B major pentatonic scale is one of the friendliest sounds you can put under your fingers. It has just five notes, it fits over a whole family of chords, and it's very hard to hit a note that sounds wrong. If you want to start improvising, or you just want something that sounds musical right away, this is a great place to begin. Let's look at the notes, why they sound the way they do, and where to play them on the neck.

The Notes of B Major Pentatonic

Here are the five notes: B, C#, D#, F#, G#.

The word pentatonic just means "five notes". After G# the pattern starts again on the next B, an octave higher. An octave is the same note at a higher pitch, 12 frets up the same string.

Musicians often label scale notes with numbers that show how far each one sits from the root, the home note the scale is named after. For this scale the formula is:

• 1 (root): B
• 2 (major 2nd): C#
• 3 (major 3rd): D#
• 5 (perfect 5th): F#
• 6 (major 6th): G#

These numbers work in any key, so once you know them you can move the same idea anywhere on the neck.

A word about all those sharps

If four sharps look a bit scary, don't worry. B is simply a key that uses a lot of sharps. You might wonder why we write D# and not Eb, since on the guitar they're the same fret. The answer is a simple rule: a scale uses each letter name once, in order. B major runs B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, with every letter from A to G appearing exactly once. The pentatonic takes its notes straight from that list, so it keeps the same spellings. Same sounds, just tidier names.

How the Step Pattern Builds the Scale

Two distances matter here. A half step is one fret. A whole step is two frets. The pattern for major pentatonic is:

W - W - W+H - W - W+H

That "W+H" is a whole step plus a half step, which is three frets. Here's how it plays out from B:

• B up a whole step (2 frets) gives C#
• C# up a whole step gives D#
• D# up a whole step plus a half step (3 frets) gives F#
• F# up a whole step gives G#
• G# up a whole step plus a half step brings you back to B

You can hear this on a single string. On the low E string, play frets 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 and 19. That's B, C#, D#, F#, G# and B again. Sliding up one string like this is a great way to feel the gaps between the notes.

Why It Sounds So Sweet

The major pentatonic is built from the B major scale, which is B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#. To get the pentatonic, you take out two notes: the 4th (E) and the 7th (A#).

Those two notes are the ones that sit just a half step from their neighbours. E is one fret above D#, and A# is one fret below B. Half steps create tension, that slight rub that wants to move somewhere. Take them out and there are no half steps at all. Every note sits comfortably next to the others, which is why this scale sounds so open and why it's so hard to make it sound wrong.

Listen especially for D#, the major 3rd. That's the note that makes the scale sound bright and happy. Then try landing on G#, the 6th. It adds a sweet, slightly wistful colour you'll recognise from a lot of country, pop and classic rock soloing.

Its minor twin

The G# minor pentatonic scale uses exactly the same five notes. The difference is which note feels like home. Start and end your phrases on B and it sounds bright; lean on G# and it turns darker. Same notes, different mood.

Chords to Jam Over

Because the scale comes from B major, it fits the chords of that key. The most useful ones to start with are:

• B (the home chord)
• E
• F#
• G#m

A simple progression to try is B - E - F# - B, one bar each, round and round. Record it on your phone or ask a friend to strum it, then improvise with the scale over the top. For a slightly more emotional feel, try B - G#m - E - F#.

Notice that E isn't in the pentatonic scale, yet the scale still works over the E chord. That's because notes like B and G# belong to that chord too. Try ending a phrase on G# when the E chord comes round and listen to how settled it sounds.

Finding B on the Neck

Knowing where the root lives makes everything easier. On a standard-tuned guitar, you'll find B at:

• Low E (6th) string: frets 7 and 19
• A (5th) string: frets 2 and 14

A handy first shape starts at the 7th fret of the low E string. Play two notes per string:

• Low E string: frets 7 and 9 (B, C#)
• A string: frets 6 and 9 (D#, F#)
• D string: frets 6 and 9 (G#, B)
• G string: frets 6 and 8 (C#, D#)
• B string: frets 7 and 9 (F#, G#)
• High E string: frets 7 and 9 (B, C#)

Play it slowly up and down, saying the note names as you go. Pay attention to every B, because those are your home bases.

Your Next Practice Session

Set a timer for ten minutes. Loop B - E - F# - B, and use only the shape above. Play short phrases of three or four notes, and always finish on B or D#. Don't worry about speed. Focus on making each phrase sound like it's going somewhere and coming home. Do that a few days in a row and you'll be surprised how quickly the scale starts to feel like your own voice.

For the bigger picture, read The Major Pentatonic Scale.