STRINGSCALES

B♭ ionian major #2 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

G string: G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

B string: C#, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

High E string: F, G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

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Bb ionian major #2

The ionian #2 scale, the sixth mode of the neapolitan minor scale, is a major scale whose 2nd is raised to a sharp 2nd, creating an augmented 2nd leap right at the start. The rest is textbook major, so melodies keep snapping between exotic and plain. It is a striking way to make a familiar major progression sound foreign.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

B♭maj
C♯

#II

E♭7no5/C#
D

iii

Dm
E♭

IV

E♭maj
F

V+

Faug
G

vi

Gm
A

VII

Amaj♭5

Same notes, different mode

Bb ionian major #2 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C# ultralocrianD neapolitan minorEb lydian #6F mixolydian augmentedG romani minorA locrian dominant

ionian major #2 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play Bb major but leap from the root straight to #2 (C#) and settle on the 3rd; one displaced note makes familiar lines sound foreign.
  • Use the #2 (C#) as a chromatic ornament to the 3rd (D) in an otherwise textbook major solo; ration it and it stays striking.
  • It is the sixth mode of neapolitan minor, sharing its notes with the neapolitan minor a major 3rd below Bb.
  • Over a plain major triad, alternate phrases from Bb major and Bb ionian #2 (C#) to make one chord feel like two worlds.

How to play B♭ ionian major #2 on guitar

Open A, D and G all belong to this key, but the tonic and the fifth are missing from that set, which means the open set decorates a line instead of anchoring it. An A string root at fret 1 is the closest to the nut, which puts a low anchor in first position while the low E root waits at fret 6. Dm is the iii chord, and fret 3 on the G string is another root. With a capo at fret 1, A shapes work.

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