STRINGSCALES

B♭ minor hexatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12

D string: Eb, F, A, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11

High E string: F, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

Bb minor hexatonic

The minor hexatonic is a six note scale: root, 2nd, flat 3rd, 4th, 5th, major 7th. It is harmonic minor with the flat 6th omitted, keeping the dramatic leading tone while removing the scale's most dissonant rub. The result is a clean minor sound with a strong pull home, handy over minor and minor-major 7th chords alike.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

C

II

D♭

bIII

E♭

IV

F

V

A

VII

minor hexatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Hear Bb minor hexatonic as harmonic minor minus the flat 6th: the drama of the leading tone (A) without the augmented-2nd gap.
  • Over a minor-major 7th chord, arpeggiate root, bIII (Db), V, VII and use the 2nd (C) and 4th (Eb) as connecting steps.
  • End phrases VII up to Bb; with no b6 (Gb) in the way, the resolution sounds clean rather than exotic.
  • Use it when natural minor feels too soft and harmonic minor too Spanish; six notes split the difference.

How to play B♭ minor hexatonic on guitar

Open A is the only open string inside Bb minor hexatonic, carrying the major seventh, so the one drone on offer is not the root. One fret up from that open note sits the fretted root, which means a single finger covers both. A capo on fret 1 turns the whole layout into A minor hexatonic, so the open-position library applies. Three flats. Boxes anchored at fret 6 on the low E top out at fret 10.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.