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B leading whole tone Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E#, F##, G##, A#, B, C#, D# at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

A string: G##, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F##, G## at frets 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

D string: D#, E#, F##, G##, A#, B, C# at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

G string: F##, G##, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F## at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: B, C#, D#, E#, F##, G##, A#, B at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

High E string: E#, F##, G##, A#, B, C#, D# at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

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B 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+

Baug
C♯

II+

C♯aug
D♯

III

D♯maj
E♯

#IV

E#maj♭5
F𝄪

#v°

F𝄪dim
G𝄪

#VI

B7no5/G𝄪
A♯

vii

A♯m

Same notes, different mode

B 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 locrianG half-diminished b4A 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 (G) 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 B give the neapolitan major scale.

How to play B leading whole tone on guitar

Open B is a root, and the open G and A strings give F## and G## above it, so three strings drone without a finger down. Capo 2 rewrites the shapes as A, which lets you trade six sharps for something your hands already know. Roots move up the neck from fret 0 on the B string to fret 9 on the D. Lowest is fret 7 on the low E.

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