B Minor Pentatonic Scale
The B minor pentatonic scale contains B – D – E – F# – A. It is B minor without its 2nd (C#) and 6th (G), so it is usually written in the key signature of B minor: 2 sharps: F# and C#.
B 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.
B minor pentatonic vs B minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | B | C# | D | E | F# | G | A |
| Pentatonic | B | – | D | E | F# | – | A |
C# and G are the two notes of B minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is D major pentatonic, which uses the same five keys starting from D. Add one note and it becomes B blues.
What B minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over Bm and Bm7, over a minor song in the key of B minor, and over a blues in B, where its D rubs against the major 3rd of the B chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from B | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | root | 0 |
| D | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| E | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| F# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| A | 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
B minor has 2 sharps: F# and C#. The pentatonic plays B, D, E, F# and A, so C# and G simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with B minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bm | B D F# |
| Bm7 | B D F# A |
| Bsus4 | B E F# |
| D | D F# A |
| Dsus2 | D E A |
| Dmaj6 | D F# A B |
| Esus2 | E F# B |
| Esus4 | E A B |
| Asus2 | A B E |
| Asus4 | A D E |
More scales on B
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B minor pentatonic scale?
The B minor pentatonic scale contains B, D, E, F#, A, then returns to B an octave higher.
Which notes does B minor pentatonic leave out of B minor?
The 2nd, C#, and the 6th, G. What remains is B, D, E, F#, A.
What is the relative major pentatonic of B minor pentatonic?
D major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with D 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.