B♭ Minor Pentatonic Scale (Bb, A#)
The Bb minor pentatonic scale contains Bb – Db – Eb – F – Ab. It is Bb minor without its 2nd (C) and 6th (Gb), so it is usually written in the key signature of Bb minor: 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb. It uses the same piano keys as A# minor pentatonic, spelled A# – C# – D# – E# – G#.
Bb minor pentatonic scale chart
Pentatonic and blues scales have no standard book fingering, so none is shown here. Pick fingers that keep your thumb off the black keys.
Bb minor pentatonic vs Bb minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab |
| Pentatonic | Bb | – | Db | Eb | F | – | Ab |
C and Gb are the two notes of Bb minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is Db major pentatonic (the same keys as C# major pentatonic), which uses the same five keys starting from Db. Add one note and it becomes Bb blues.
What Bb minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over Bbm and Bbm7, over a minor song in the key of Bb minor, and over a blues in Bb, where its Db rubs against the major 3rd of the Bb chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Bb | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 1 | root | 0 |
| Db | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| Eb | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| F | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| Ab | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
Step pattern
The minor pentatonic scale is built from the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
Bb minor has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb. The pentatonic plays Bb, Db, Eb, F and Ab, so C and Gb simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with Bb minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bbm | Bb Db F |
| Bbm7 | Bb Db F Ab |
| Bbsus4 | Bb Eb F |
| Db | Db F Ab |
| Dbsus2 | Db Eb Ab |
| Dbmaj6 | Db F Ab Bb |
| Ebsus2 | Eb F Bb |
| Ebsus4 | Eb Ab Bb |
| Absus2 | Ab Bb Eb |
| Absus4 | Ab Db Eb |
More scales on Bb
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Bb minor pentatonic scale?
The Bb minor pentatonic scale contains Bb, Db, Eb, F, Ab, then returns to Bb an octave higher.
Which notes does Bb minor pentatonic leave out of Bb minor?
The 2nd, C, and the 6th, Gb. What remains is Bb, Db, Eb, F, Ab.
What is the relative major pentatonic of Bb minor pentatonic?
Db major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with Db as its tonic.
What is the step pattern of the minor pentatonic scale?
It follows the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.