About the B flat Ionian Pentatonic scale
B flat Ionian Pentatonic is used for pop, folk and melodic writing. Think of it as five bright notes drawn from the major scale. It is B♭ Melodic Minor Pentatonic with the third raised.
Its notes are B♭, D, E♭, F, and A. The formula is 4 semitones H W 4 semitones H.
Also called Ryukyu Scale and Okinawan.
Two open-string notes belong to B♭ Ionian Pentatonic, namely A and D. On guitar, the deepest B♭ within reach is the 1st fret of the A string. The scale sits in true open position, with a complete octave of the scale inside the first three frets.
Positions
Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.
Pentatonic boxes
The five shapes blues and rock are built on, the first scale most guitarists ever solo with, one box per note up the neck.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BbB♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DD | Major 3rd |
| 3 | EbE♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 4 | FF | Perfect 5th |
| 5 | AA | Major 7th |
| Steps | 4 semitones H W 4 semitones H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 4-1-2-4-1 |
| Degrees | 1 3 4 5 7 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Ionian Pentatonic in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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