B whole-tone scale on guitar
The B whole-tone scale has 6 notes: B C♯ D♯ E♯ Fx A (B, C sharp, D sharp, E sharp, F double sharp, and A). The diagrams work the same for acoustic and electric guitar.
- B 1
- C♯ C sharp 2
- D♯ D sharp 3
- E♯ E sharp ♯4
- Fx F double sharp ♯5
- A ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (B) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 4 (frets 1 to 5), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 1 (E♯), 3 (Fx), 5 (A)
- string 5: 2 (B), 4 (C♯)
- string 4: 1 (D♯), 3 (E♯), 5 (Fx)
- string 3: 2 (A), 4 (B)
- string 2: 2 (C♯), 4 (D♯)
- string 1: 1 (E♯), 3 (Fx), 5 (A)
Position 5 (frets 3 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 3 (Fx), 5 (A), 7 (B)
- string 5: 4 (C♯), 6 (D♯)
- string 4: 3 (E♯), 5 (Fx), 7 (A)
- string 3: 4 (B), 6 (C♯)
- string 2: 4 (D♯), 6 (E♯)
- string 1: 3 (Fx), 5 (A), 7 (B)
Position 6 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 5 (A), 7 (B), 9 (C♯)
- string 5: 6 (D♯), 8 (E♯)
- string 4: 5 (Fx), 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 3: 6 (C♯), 8 (D♯)
- string 2: 6 (E♯), 8 (Fx)
- string 1: 5 (A), 7 (B), 9 (C♯)
Position 1 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 7 (B), 9 (C♯), 11 (D♯)
- string 5: 8 (E♯), 10 (Fx)
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
- string 3: 8 (D♯), 10 (E♯)
- string 2: 8 (Fx), 10 (A)
- string 1: 7 (B), 9 (C♯), 11 (D♯)
Position 2 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 9 (C♯), 11 (D♯), 13 (E♯)
- string 5: 10 (Fx), 12 (A)
- string 4: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
- string 3: 10 (E♯), 12 (Fx)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B)
- string 1: 9 (C♯), 11 (D♯), 13 (E♯)
Position 3 (frets 11 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 11 (D♯), 13 (E♯), 15 (Fx)
- string 5: 12 (A), 14 (B)
- string 4: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯), 15 (E♯)
- string 3: 12 (Fx), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 14 (C♯)
- string 1: 11 (D♯), 13 (E♯), 15 (Fx)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (B).
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- B
- W
- C♯
- W
- D♯
- W
- E♯
- W
- Fx
- W
- A
- W
- B
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the whole-tone scale
Six notes a whole step apart. Mysterious and dreamlike; fits augmented chords.
Scales with the same notes
More B scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Whole-tone in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the B whole-tone scale?
The notes of the B whole-tone scale are B, C sharp, D sharp, E sharp, F double sharp, and A. The root, degree 1, is B.
What is the formula of the B whole-tone scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the B whole-tone scale on guitar?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (B). There are 6 positions on guitar, each with the full fingering.