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B♭ ionian pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, A, Bb, D, Eb at frets 1, 5, 6, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, D, Eb, F, A at frets 0, 1, 5, 6, 8, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, A, Bb, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 7, 8, 12

G string: A, Bb, D, Eb, F at frets 2, 3, 7, 8, 10

B string: D, Eb, F, A, Bb at frets 3, 4, 6, 10, 11

High E string: F, A, Bb, D, Eb at frets 1, 5, 6, 10, 11

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Bb ionian pentatonic

The ionian pentatonic keeps the root, major 3rd, 4th, 5th and major 7th of the major scale. Unlike the common major pentatonic it keeps both half-step tendencies (4 and 7), so it sounds like a compressed major scale rather than an open one. It outlines a major 7th chord with one passing tone, making it a compact source of maj7 arpeggio lines.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

D

III

E♭

IV

F

V

A

VII

Same notes, different mode

Bb ionian pentatonic 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.

D pelog

ionian pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A maj7 arpeggio plus the 4th: the root, 3rd (D), 4th (Eb), 5th (F) and 7th (A); play it as chord tones with one passing note and lines write themselves.
  • Both half steps resolve like the full major scale, the 4th (Eb) falling to the 3rd and the 7th (A) rising to Bb, so the five notes still sound complete.
  • Use it over maj7 chords when the ordinary major pentatonic feels too country; the VII changes the register of the sound.
  • Practice the IV-III and VII-root resolutions as ornaments (hammer-ons into the chord tone) for melodic comping in Bb.

How to play B♭ ionian pentatonic on guitar

One fret of capo turns Bb ionian pentatonic into the open A fingering, so open-position players keep their familiar grips. Uncapoed, the open A and D strings still sound the seventh and the third. A-shape barre sits low at fret 1, E-shape at fret 6, which means you choose register without moving far. First box runs fret 6 to fret 10.

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