B Major Pentatonic Scale (B C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯)
B major pentatonic is B C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯, the same notes as G♯ minor pentatonic. Country in B, a key that mostly exists because of capos, borrows it constantly.
Fretboard diagram
Every B major pentatonic note from the open strings to fret 22. At fret 12 the map starts over an octave up.
Notes in this scale
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | B |
| 2 | major second | C♯ |
| 3 | major third | D♯ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | F♯ |
| 6 | major sixth | G♯ |
Where to land
A lead that never touches its root is an exercise. In the first twelve frets B sits on the low E string at fret 7, the A string at fret 2, the D string at fret 9, the G string at fret 4, the B string open and at fret 12, and the high E string at fret 7. End phrases on one of them until it's automatic, then start aiming for whichever chord tone the band is sitting on instead.
Over a B major chord, B, D♯, and F♯ are chord tones and land clean anywhere in the bar. The G♯ sits close enough to the fifth to resolve down into it, which is the classic country move.
Keep exploring
Same root
Same notes
G♯ minor pentatonic is these five notes with G♯ as home. Same frets, different landing spots.
Chords it fits over
B, Bmaj7, and B7 when the song is country or major-key blues.
Nearby keys
B major pentatonic FAQ
What notes are in the B major pentatonic scale?
B major pentatonic contains B, C♯, D♯, F♯, and G♯. That's the root, the major second, the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major sixth.
What fret does B major pentatonic start on?
The lowest root is B at fret 7 on the low E string, and most players anchor there. The scale itself covers the whole neck, and everything repeats twelve frets higher.
What is the difference between B major and B minor pentatonic?
B major pentatonic is B C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯. B minor pentatonic is B D E F♯ A. They share only the root and the fifth, and major-key country and minor-key blues split along exactly that line.