Bb Blues scale
Minor pentatonic with an added lowered 5th; the blue note adds controlled tension.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Bb Blues scale
- Family
- Pentatonic scales
- Note count
- 6
- Step formula
- W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-3-2-1-1-3-2
Notes & degrees
1Bbroot
b3Dbminor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
b5Fbdim 5th
5Fperfect 5th
b7Abminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Minor pentatonic with an added lowered 5th; the blue note adds controlled tension.
- Application in music
- The lowered 5th creates shifting tension over I7, IV7 and V7; the scale is used in blues improvisation.
- Interval formula
- BbWHDbWEbHFbHFWHAb
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbpoint of resttonic
VFsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIDbDb
IVEbEb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Bb Blues scale looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.