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B♭ lydian pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, A, Bb, D, E at frets 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 12

A string: A, Bb, D, E, F, A at frets 0, 1, 5, 7, 8, 12

D string: D, E, F, A, Bb, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12

G string: A, Bb, D, E, F at frets 2, 3, 7, 9, 10

B string: D, E, F, A, Bb at frets 3, 5, 6, 10, 11

High E string: E, F, A, Bb, D, E at frets 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 12

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Bb lydian pentatonic

The lydian pentatonic, catalogued in some collections as the chinese scale, is root, major 3rd, raised 4th, 5th, major 7th. It compresses the lydian mode's floating #4 and leading tone into five notes that outline a maj7#11 chord. Sparse and bright, it turns a static major 7th vamp into something wide open.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

D

III

E

#IV

F

V

A

VII

Same notes, different mode

Bb lydian 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 hirajoshiE iwatoA kumoijoshi

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

tip
  • A maj7#11 in five notes: root, III, #IV (E), V, VII; sustain any of them over a major chord on Bb and nothing clashes.
  • Feature the #IV (E) to V half step and the VII to root resolution: two leading motions in one sparse scale.
  • Some catalogues call it the chinese scale; its wide-open 3rds invite double-stop playing in Bb.
  • Use it to state lydian color instantly, one phrase of these five notes over a maj7 chord says #11 louder than a full modal run.

How to play B♭ lydian pentatonic on guitar

Four open strings fall inside this key, both E strings as the augmented fourth, the A as the 7th and the D as the 3rd, giving plenty of colour but no root or fifth to lean on. Fret 1 on the A is the same pitch as fret 6 on the low E, which lets you choose the shape that fits the phrase. Roots also sit at 3 on the G, 8 on the D and 11 on the B. Capo 1 hands you A shapes.

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