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B♭ leading whole tone Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: G#, A, Bb, C, D, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

B string: C, D, E, F#, G#, A, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

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Bb leading whole tone

The leading whole tone scale, the second mode of the neapolitan major scale, is a whole tone scale with a major 7th bolted on. Five whole steps float exactly as expected, then the leading tone suddenly offers a way home. That built-in escape hatch makes it more usable than the pure whole tone scale in tonal contexts.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I+

B♭aug
C

II+

Caug
D

III

Dmaj
E

#IV

Emaj♭5
F♯

#v°

F♯dim
G♯

#VI

B♭7no5/G#
A

vii

Am

Same notes, different mode

Bb leading whole tone 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 lydian augmented dominantD lydian dominant b6E major locrianF# half-diminished b4G# altered dominant double b3A neapolitan major

leading whole tone in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Float through the whole tone bottom (root to #V (F#) in whole steps), then use the major 7th (A) as the escape hatch to the root.
  • Over an augmented chord resolving to a major chord, this scale scripts the resolution: dreamy first, decisive at the end.
  • Delay the VII: the longer the whole tone blur lasts, the stronger the leading tone lands.
  • It is the second mode of neapolitan major; the same notes a whole step below Bb give the neapolitan major scale.

How to play B♭ leading whole tone on guitar

Capo at fret 1 and the whole thing reads as A, so every open-A shape you own transfers straight over. Roots start on the A string at fret 1, climb to fret 3 on the G, and the lowest of them is fret 6 on the low E. Open A sounds a major seventh above Bb and open D a major third, which means both work as tension notes under a line. Box one ends at fret 10.

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