Scales & Modes

The C major scale is the archetypal example of a major scale. It is made up of all the natural notes (the white notes of the piano), thus being the easiest scale to write and read. The relative minor scale of C major is A minor. The notes that make up the C major scale (also the C Ionian mode) are the same ones used for the D doric mode, E phrygian, F lydian, G mixolydian, A aeolian (or minor), and B locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the C major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the C major scale, together with their harmonic function.

C major Pattern I

C major Pattern II

C major Pattern III

C major Pattern IV

C major Pattern V

C major Pattern VI

C major Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the C major scale.

I	C	I7	C7
ii	Dm	II7	D7	ii7b5	Dm7b5
iii	Em	III7	E7	bIII	Eb
IV	F	ii7b5/iii	F#m7b5	iv	Fm
V	G	V7	G7	v	Gm
vi	Am	VI7	A7	bVI	Ab
vii	Bdim	vii7b5	Bm7b5	bVII	Bb

The D flat major scale has five flats (Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, and Bb) and, because of this, it is not a very common choice to play or write guitar music in this key: guitar pieces (as well as most pieces for string instruments) are usually written considering the resonance of the instrument and the comfort of the player. There are no open strings on D flat major, thus making it an uncommon key for the guitar.

Still, D flat major is a far more used key than its enharmonic counterpart C sharp major, consisting of seven sharps as opposed to five flats. D flat major has been widely used in piano music (especially since the romantic period), as they black keys of the piano correspond to the flats in the scale, allowing an easy fingering.

The relative minor scale of D flat major is Bflat minor. Its parallel is D flat minor, usually replaced with C sharp minor for easier writing. We can see an example of this in Chopin's Prelude in D flat major, where writes a middle section in the parallel minor, using the enharmonic equivalent C sharp minor.

The notes that make up the D flat major scale are the same ones used for the Eb doric mode, F phrygian, Gb lydian, Ab mixolydian, Bb aeolian (or minor), and C locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the D flat major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the D flat major scale, together with their harmonic function.

D flat major Pattern I

The scale of D major has two sharps (F# and C#), and it is frequently used for guitar music. It is well suited to strings instruments in general, given that almost all of them are tuned with their open strings in pitches corresponding to the notes of the scale. This favors sympathetic resonance and makes for a brighter sound. In guitar music, it is common to drop the low E string to D: this eases some fingerings, and it creates the possibility of playing D chords with a powerful, resounding fifth between the lower strings of the instruments. It is also common to lower the G string to an F#. A significant number of string-based pieces has been written in the key of D, such as Mozart's second violin concerto, or Beethoven's violin concerto.

The relative minor of D major is B minor, and its parallel minor key is D minor. The notes that make up the D majorscale are the same ones used for the E doric mode, F# phrygian, G lydian, A mixolydian, B aeolian (or minor), and C# locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the D major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the D major, toghether with their harmonic function.

D major Pattern I

D major Pattern II

D major Pattern III

D major Pattern IV

D major Pattern V

D major Pattern VI

D major Pattern VII

I	D	I7	D7
ii	Em	II7	E7	ii7b5	Em7b5
iii	F#m	III7	F#7	bIII	F
IV	G	ii7b5/iii	G#m7b5	iv	Gm
V	A	V7	A7	v	Am
vi	Bm	VI7	B7	bVI	Bb
vii	C#dim	vii7b5	C#m7b5	bVII	C

The E flat major scale has three flats, and it is not used often in classical guitar music, though it can be indirectly achieved by playing music in they key of E using a half-step down tuning (a common practice in some genres of popular music, often used to accomodate singers). In classical music, they key of E flat major is often associated with heroic qualities, mainly due to the possibilities it offers in brass writing, and Beethoven's use of it in his Eroica Symphony.

The relative minor scale of E flat major is C minor. The notes that make up the E flat major scale are the same ones used for the F doric mode, G phrygian, A flat lydian, Bb flat mixolydian, C aeolian (or minor), and D locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the E flat major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the E flat major, toghether with their harmonic function.

Eb major Pattern III

I	Eb	I7	Eb7
ii	Fm	II7	F7	ii7b5	Fm7b5
iii	Gm	III7	G7	bIII	Gb
IV	Ab	ii7b5/iii	Am7b5	iv	Abm
V	Bb	V7	Bb7	v	Bbm
vi	Cm	VI7	C7	bVI	B
vii	Ddim	vii7b5	Dm7b5	bVII	Db

The E major scale has four sharps notes (F#, G#, C#, and D#) and it is extremely well suited for the guitar due to the easy fingerings of the chords most commonly employed with it. With the lowest note of the guitar being E, it allows for powerful tonic chords and an easy use of pedal notes. Other strings instruments also benefit from this key.

The relative minor scale of E major is C# minor. The notes that make up the E major scale are the same ones used for the F# doric mode, G# phrygian, A lydian, B mixolydian, C# aeolian (or minor), and D# locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the E major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the E major scale, together with their harmonic function.

I	E	I7	E7
ii	F#m	II7	F#7	ii7b5	F#m7b5
iii	G#m	III7	G#7	bIII	G
IV	A	ii7b5/iii	A#m7b5	iv	Am
V	B	V7	B7	v	Bm
vi	C#m	VI7	C#7	bVI	C
vii	D#dim	vii7b5	D#m7b5	bVII	D

The F major scale has only one flat note (Bb), making it one of the easiest scales for beginners. It is frequently found in guitar music. The relative minor scale of F major is D minor. The notes that make up the F major scale are the same ones used for the G doric mode, A phyrigian, Bb lydian, C mixolydian, D aeolian, and E locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the F major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the F major scale, together with their harmonic function.

F major Pattern I

F major Pattern II

F major Pattern III

F major Pattern IV

F major Pattern V

F major Pattern VI

F major Pattern VII

I	F	I7	F7
ii	Gm	II7	G7	ii7b5	Gm7b5
iii	Am	III7	A7	bIII	Ab
IV	Bb	ii7b5/iii	Bm7b5	iv	Bbm
V	C	V7	C7	v	Cm
vi	Dm	VI7	D7	bVI	Db
vii	Edim	vii7b5	Em7b5	bVII	Eb

The F sharp major scale has six sharps (F#, G#, A#, C#, D#, and E#), the same amount of flats its enharmonic equivalent -G flat major- has (Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb). Neither of these keys is regularly used in guitar music: guitar pieces (as well as most pieces for string instruments) are usually written considering the resonance of the instrument and the comfort of the player. Neither is used in orchestral music regularly either. It is an acceptable key for piano pieces, given its easy fingering.

The relative minor scale of F# major (Gb major) is D# minor (Eb minor). The notes that make up the scale are the same ones used for the G# doric mode, Bb phrygian, B lydian, C# mixolydian, and F locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the F# major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the F# major scale, together with their harmonic function.

The following chords can be played when using the F# major scale.

I	F#	I7	F#7
ii	G#m	II7	G#7	ii7b5	G#m7b5
iii	Bbm	III7	Bb7	bIII	A
IV	B	ii7b5/iii	Cm7b5	iv	Bm
V	C#	V7	C#7	v	C#m
vi	D#m	VI7	Eb7	bVI	D
vii	Fdim	vii7b5	Fm7b5	bVII	E

The G major scale has only one sharp (F#), and it is one of the most frequently used keys for both academic and popular music. This is partly because of its ease of playing in both keyboard and stringed instruments: in the guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, etc. most of the strings are notes of the scale when played open. The easiest chords to play in the guitar are the ones mainly used in the keys of G and C major. 

The relative minor scale of G major is E minor. The notes that make up the G major scale are the same ones used for the A doric mode, B phrygian, C lydian, D mixolydian, E aeolian (or minor), and F# locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the G major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the G major scale, together with their harmonic function.

G major Pattern I

G major Pattern II

G major Pattern III

G major Pattern IV

G major Pattern V

G major Pattern VI

G major Pattern VII

I	G	I7	G7
ii	Am	II7	A7	ii7b5	Am7b5
iii	Bm	III7	B7	bIII	Bb
IV	C	ii7b5/iii	C#m7b5	iv	Cm
V	D	V7	D7	v	Dm
vi	Em	VI7	E7	bVI	Eb
vii	F#dim	vii7b5	F#m7b5	bVII	F

The A flat major scale has four flats (Ab, Bb, Db, and Eb), and it is not used often in classical guitar music. It is far more common in classical piano and orchestral music, being, for example, one of Chopin's favorite keys. The relative minor scale of A flat major is F minor. The notes that make up the A flat major scale are the same ones used for the B flat dorian mode, C phrygian, D flat lydian, E flat mixolydian, F aeolian, and G locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the A flat major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the A flat major scale, together with their harmonic function.

Ab major Pattern I

Ab major Pattern II

Ab major Pattern III

Ab major Pattern IV

Ab major Pattern V

Ab major Pattern VI

Ab major Pattern VII

I	Ab	I7	Ab7
ii	Bbm	II7	Bb7	ii7b5	Bbm7b5
iii	Cm	III7	C7	bIII	B
IV	Db	ii7b5/iii	Dm7b5	iv	Dbm
V	Eb	V7	Eb7	v	Ebm
vi	Fm	VI7	F7	bVI	E
vii	Gdim	vii7b5	Gm7b5	bVII	Gb

The A major scale has three sharps (C#, F#, and G#) and it is a scale very well suited for guitar music, given that its first, second, third, fourth, and fifth degree are open strings (actually conforming a pentatonic scale, which can be considered to be a sort of structural basis for the major scale).

The relative minor scale of A major is C# minor. The notes that make up the A major scale are the same ones used for the B doric mode, C# phrygian, D lydian, E mixolydian, F# aeolian (or minor), and G# locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the A major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the A major scale, together with their harmonic function.

A major Pattern I

A major Pattern II

A major Pattern III

A major Pattern IV

A major Pattern V

A major Pattern VI

A major Pattern VII

I	A	I7	A7
ii	Bm	II7	B7	ii7b5	Bm7b5
iii	C#m	III7	C#7	bIII	C
IV	D	ii7b5/iii	D#m7b5	iv	Dm
V	E	V7	E7	v	Em
vi	F#m	VI7	F#7	bVI	F
vii	G#dim	vii7b5	G#m7b5	bVII	G

The Bb major scale has two flats (Bb and Eb). Even though three open strings are notes of the scale, it is not so commonly used in guitar music, the main reasons being that most of the fundamental chords used for music in Bb would require a barred position. The most usual way of playing in B flat major in the guitar is to use a capo on the first fret and play as in the key of A major. 

The relative minor scale of Bb major is G minor. The notes that make up the Bb major scale are the same ones used for the C doric mode, D phrygian, Eb lydian, F mixolydian, G aeolian (or minor), and A locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the Bb major scale. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the Bb major scale, together with their harmonic function.

Bb major Pattern I

Bb major Pattern II

Bb major Pattern III

Bb major Pattern IV

Bb major Pattern V

Bb major Pattern VI

Bb major Pattern VII

I	Bb	I7	Bb7
ii	Cm7	II7	C7	ii7b5	Cm7b5
iii	Dm	III7	D7	bIII	Db
IV	Eb	ii7b5/iii	Em7b5	iv	Ebm
V	F	V7	F7	v	Fm7
vi	Gm	VI7	G7	bVI	Gb
vii	Adim	vii7b5	Am7b5	bVII	Ab

The B major scale has five sharps (C#, D#, F#, G#, and A#), and it is found with some frequency in guitar music, though not as often as E major. B major was considered by Chopin to be the easiest scale for the piano in terms of fingering, and taught it even before the C major scale.

The relative minor of B majoris G# minor. The notes that make up the B major scale are the same ones used for the C# doric mode, D# phrygian, E lydian, F# mixolydian, G# aeolian (or minor), and A# locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the B major scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the B major scale, together with their harmonic function.

B major Pattern I

B major Pattern II

B major Pattern III

B major Pattern IV

B major Pattern V

B major Pattern VI

B major Pattern VII

I	B	I7	B7
ii	C#m	II7	C#	ii7b5	C#m7b5
iii	D#m	III7	D#7	bIII	D
IV	E	ii7b5/iii	Fm7b5	iv	Em
V	F#	V7	F#7	v	F#m
vi	G#m	VI7	G#7	bVI	G
vii	A#dim	vii7b5	A#m7b5	bVII	A

The C minor scale has only three flat notes (Bb, Eb, and Ab), and it is not often used in classical guitar music. It has been historically associated with Beethoven and the musical depictions of heroic struggle.

The relative major scale of C minoris E flat major. The notes that make up the C minor scale are the same ones used for the F doric mode, G phyrigian, Ab lydian, Bb mixolydian, and D locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the C minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the C minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

C minor Pattern I

C minor Pattern II

C minor Pattern III

C minor Pattern IV

C minor Pattern V

C minor Pattern VI

C minor Pattern VII

I	Cm	I7	C7
ii7b5	Dm7b5	II7	D7
III	Eb	III7	Eb7
iv	Fm	IV	F	#iv°	F#°
V(7)	G(7)	v	Gm
VI	Ab	#vi7b5	Am7b5
VII	Bb	vii°7	B°7

The C sharp minor scale has three sharps (F#, C#, and G#), and it is sometimes found in classical guitar literature. Its relative major, E major, is one of the most used scales in guitar writing, so it's only natural that works contain fragments in C sharp minor. However, it is not among the most common keys in orchestral and piano writing. In some genres of popular music, guitarists will tune their guitars half a step down (either from standard or dropped tunnings), in order to accommodate singers. Thus, a work played as in D minor may actually sound in C sharp minor. It should be noted that it's enharmonic scale, D flat minor, is almost never used as it is impractical for reading and writing.

The notes that make up the C sharp minor scale are the same ones used for the F# doric mode, G# phrygian, A lydian, B mixolydian, E ionian (or major), and D# locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the C sharp minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the C sharp minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

C# minor Pattern I

C# minor Pattern II

C# minor Pattern III

C# minor Pattern IV

C# minor Pattern V

C# minor Pattern VI

C# minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the C# minor scale.

I	C#m	I7	C#7
ii7b5	D#m7b5	II7	D#7
III	E	III7	E7
iv	F#m	IV	F#	#iv°	G°
V(7)	G#(7)	v	G#m
VI	A	#vi7b5	A#m7b5
VII	B	vii°7	C°7

The D minor scale has only one flat note (Bb), and it is very well suited for guitar writing. Popular scordaturas for the guitar include dropping the low E string to D (thus making possible a very resounding D minor chord, as well as easing fingerings), or dropping all the strings a tone lower (thus making it possible to play in E minor, the most practical key, and sound in D minor). Other stringed instruments may benefit from the key also.

Outside guitar music D minor has been widely used, even being the home key of Beethoven's longest symphony. Sclarlatti wrote about 32 of his 151 minor key-sonatas in D minor, and they often borrow mannerisms from the guitar music of the period. The relative minor scale of D minoris F major. The notes that make up the D minor scale are the same ones used for the G doric mode, A phyrigian, Bb lydian, C mixolydian, D aeolian, and E locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the D minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the D minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

D minor Pattern I

D minor Pattern II

D minor Pattern III

D minor Pattern IV

D minor Pattern V

D minor Pattern VI

D minor Pattern VII

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The following chords can be played when using the D minor scale.

I	Dm	I7	D7
ii7b5	Em7b5	II7	E7
III	F	III7	F7
iv	Gm	IV	G	#iv°	G#°
V(7)	A(7)	v	Am
VI	Bb	#vi7b5	Bm7b5
VII	C	vii°7	C#°7

The E flat minor scale has six flats (Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, and Db) and it isn't regularly found in classical guitar music, with composers choosing instead the neighboring (and far better suited for fingering and resonance) keys of D minor and E minor. Some genres of popular music, however, have a tradition of tuning the guitars half a step down in order to accommodate singers, so its common to find pieces played as in E minor and sounding in E flat minor instead.

They key of E flat minor is used with frequency in classical Russian piano tradition. It is also favored by jazz and blues musicians, as it allows for really easy fingerings in pentatonic scales. The relative major scale of E flat minor is G flat major. The notes that make up the scale are the same ones used for the G# doric mode, Bb phrygian, B lydian, C# mixolydian, and F locrian. It should be noted that E flat minor is favored over D sharp minor for its practicality in woodwind writing.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the E flat minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the E flat minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

Eb minor Pattern I

Eb minor Pattern II

Eb minor Pattern III

Eb minor Pattern IV

Eb minor Pattern V

Eb minor Pattern VI

Eb minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the Eb minor scale.

I	Ebm	I7	Eb7
ii7b5	Fm7b5	II7	F7
III	Gb	III7	Gb7
iv	Abm	IV	Ab	#iv°	A°
V(7)	Bb(7)	v	Bbm
VI	Cb	#vi7b5	C#7b5
VII	Db	vii°7	D°7

The E minor scale has only one sharp note (F#) and it is one of the most used scales in both the classical and popular guitar repertoires, as it is a very natural key for the instrument: four of the guitar's open strings are part of the tonic chord.

The relative major scale of E minor major is G major. The notes that make up the E minor scale are the same ones used for the A doric mode, B phrygian, C lydian, D mixolydian, and F# locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the E minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the E minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

E minor Pattern I

E minor Pattern II

E minor Pattern III

E minor Pattern IV

E minor Pattern V

E minor Pattern VI

E minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the E minor scale.

I	Em	I7	E7
ii7b5	F#m7b5	II7	F#7
III	G	III7	G7
iv	Am	IV	A	#iv°	A#°
V(7)	B(7)	v	Bm
VI	C	#vi7b5	C#m7b5
VII	D	vii°7	D#°7

The F minor scale has four flat notes (Ab, Bb, Db, and Eb), and it is not often found in the classical guitar repertoire, though it is an extremely popular key for piano writing, particularly from the romantic era (when it was associated with passionate feelings). Sometimes the key of F minor is achieved in the guitar by playing as in E minor with a capo placed in the first fret, a common practice to accommodate singers. The relative minor scale of F minor major is Ab major. The notes that make up the F minor scale are the same ones used for theB flat dorian mode, C phrygian, D flat lydian, E flat mixolydian, and G locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the F minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the F minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

F minor Pattern I

F minor Pattern II

F minor Pattern III

F minor Pattern IV

F minor Pattern V

F minor Pattern VI

F minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the F minor scale.

I	Fm	I7	F7
ii7b5	Gm7b5	II7	G7
III	Ab	III7	Ab7
iv	Bbm	IV	Bb	#iv°	B°
V(7)	C(7)	v	Cm
VI	Db	#vi7b5	Dm7b5
VII	Eb	vii°7	E°7

The F sharp minor scale has three sharps (F#, G#, and C#) and it is usually found in popular guitar pieces (not so often in classical repertoire), as it is the relative minor of A major, a very natural scale for guitar writing. The notes that make up the F sharp minor scale are the same ones used for the B doric mode, C# phrygian, D lydian, E mixolydian, F# aeolian (or minor), and G# locrian. It should be noted that it's enharmonic scale, G flat minor, is almost never used as it is impractical for reading and writing.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the F sharp minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the F sharp minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

F# minor Pattern I

F# minor Pattern II

F# minor Pattern III

F# minor Pattern IV

F# minor Pattern V

F# minor Pattern VI

F# minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the F# minor scale.

I	F#m	I7	F7
ii7b5	G#m7b5	II7	G7
III	A	III7	A7
iv	Bm	IV	B	#iv°	C°
V(7)	C#(7)	v	C#m
VI	D	#vi7b5	D#m7b5
VII	E	vii°7	F°7

The G minor scale has two flats (Eb, and Bb), and it is seldom used in classical guitar pieces. Since the classical period it has been associated with sadness (mainly due to Mozart's use of it). The relative minor scale of G minor is Bb major. The notes that make up the G minor scale are the same ones used for the C doric mode, D phrygian, Eb lydian, F mixolydian, and A locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the G minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the G minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

G minor Pattern I

G minor Pattern II

G minor Pattern III

G minor Pattern IV

G minor Pattern V

G minor Pattern VI

G minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the G minor scale.

I	Gm	I7	G7
ii7b5	Am7b5	II7	A7
III	Bb	III7	Bb7
iv	Cm	IV	C	#iv°	C#°
V(7)	D(7)	v	Dm
VI	Eb	#vi7b5	Em7b5
VII	F	vii°7	F#°7

The G sharp minor scale has four sharps (F#, G#, C#, and D#) and it is not common to use it in guitar writing. It is sometimes achieved by playing as in A minor in a guitar tuned down half a step, a practice used in some styles to accommodate singers. The relative minor scale of G sharp minor is B major. The notes that make up the G sharp minor scale are the same ones used for the C# doric mode, D# phrygian, E lydian, F# mixolydian, G# aeolian (or minor), and A# locrian. It should be noted that it's enharmonic scale, A flat flat minor, is not so commonly used as it is impractical for reading and writing.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the G sharp minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the G sharp minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

G# minor Pattern I

G# minor Pattern II

G# minor Pattern III

G# minor Pattern IV

G# minor Pattern V

G# minor Pattern VI

G# minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the G# minor scale.

I	G#m	I7	G#7
ii7b5	A#m7b5	II7	A#7
III	B	III7	B7
iv	C#m	IV	C#	#iv°	D°
V(7)	D#(7)	v	D#m
VI	E	#vi7b5	Fm7b5
VII	F#	vii°7	G°7

The A minor scale is the archetypal example of a minor scale. It is made up of all the natural notes (the white notes of the piano), thus being the easiest scale to write and read. It is also one of the most used keys in both classical and popular guitar pieces. The relative major scale of A minor is C major. The notes that make up the A minor scale (also the A aeolian) are the same ones used for the D doric mode, E phrygian, F lydian, G mixolydian, C ionian, and B locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the A minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the A minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

A minor Pattern I

A minor Pattern II

A minor Pattern III

A minor Pattern IV

A minor Pattern V

A minor Pattern VI

A minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the A minor scale.

I	Am	I7	A7
ii7b5	Bm7b5	II7	B7
III	C	III7	C7
iv	Dm	IV	D	#iv°	D#°
V(7)	E(7)	v	Em
VI	F	#vi7b5	F#m7b5
VII	G	vii°7	G#°7

The B flat minor scale has five flat notes (Bb, Db, Eb, Gb, and Ab), and it is not a common key for guitar pieces, though it can be indirectly achieved by playing in B minor with the strings tuned a half step down, or playing in A minor with a capo in the first fret. It is usually considered a dark and moody key. It should be noted that it's enharmonic scale, A sharp minor, is almost never used as it is impractical for reading and writing.

The relative major scale of B flat minor is D flat major. The notes that make up the B flat minor scale are the same ones used for the Eb doric mode, F phrygian, Gb lydian, Ab mixolydian, Bb aeolian (or minor), and C locrian. Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the B flat minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the B flat minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

Bb minor Pattern I

Bb minor Pattern II

Bb minor Pattern III

Bb minor Pattern IV

Bb minor Pattern V

Bb minor Pattern VI

Bb minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the Bb minor scale.

I	Bbm	I7	Bb7
ii7b5	Cm7b5	II7	C7
III	Db	III7	Db7
iv	Ebm	IV	Eb	#iv°	E°
V(7)	F(7)	v	Fm
VI	Gb	#vi7b5	Gm7b5
VII	Ab	vii°7	A°7

The B minor scale has two sharps (C# and F#) and it is usually found in classical guitar music, though not as frequently as E and A minor. The relative minor scale of B minor is D major. The notes that make up the B minor scale are the same ones used for theE doric mode, F# phrygian, G lydian, A mixolydian, and C# locrian.

Below you will find the seven shapes that you can use to play the B minor scale on your guitar. You will also find a table of chords you can use with the B minor scale, together with their harmonic function.

B minor Pattern I

B minor Pattern II

B minor Pattern III

B minor Pattern IV

B minor Pattern V

B minor Pattern VI

B minor Pattern VII

The following chords can be played when using the B minor scale.

I	Bm	I7	B7
ii7b5	C#m7b5	II7	C#7
III	D	III7	D7
iv	Em	IV	E	#iv°	F°
V(7)	F#(7)	v	F#m
VI	G	#vi7b5	G#m7b5
VII	A	vii°7	A#°7