B Flat Three Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in 8-string tuning — fretboard diagram
B Flat Three Pentatonic in 8-string — Notes and Intervals
The B Flat Three Pentatonic scale is a relatively rare jazz pentatonic scale. On Guitar, it contains the notes B, C#, D, F#, G#. It is an effective tool for navigating blues changes, providing a unique way to differentiate between the different chords of a progression with a quirky, minor-key twist. Commonly used in Jazz, Blues, Experimental. Notable players include Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter. Use over m7, m7b5 chords. Effective for differentiating chords within a blues progression.
Notes: B, C#, D, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5
Formula: W-H-4-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: 8-string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E)
Also known as: kumoi
About 8-string Tuning
The 8-string guitar adds both a low B and a low F# string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E), pushing the instrument's range almost into bass guitar territory. This massive tonal range has become the weapon of choice for djent, progressive metal, and experimental composers who need bone-crushing low-end and soaring highs in a single instrument.
With artists like Tosin Abasi, Meshuggah, and After the Burial leading the charge, the 8-string guitar has redefined what's possible in modern heavy music. The low F# string delivers subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest, while the upper strings maintain standard guitar voicings for leads and clean passages. Extended-range compositions often exploit the full span of the instrument, creating a wall of sound that covers bass, rhythm, and lead guitar roles simultaneously.
Notable artists: Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, After the Burial, Intervals, Monuments
Best for: Djent polyrhythms, extended-range metal riffs, experimental compositions, and one-instrument arrangements spanning bass to lead
Musical Character
A rare jazz pentatonic that provides an unusual minor-key twist for navigating blues changes with a more angular, modern approach.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop D
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in DADGAD
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open G
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in 7-string
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop C
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop B
- B Flat Three Pentatonic in Open D