Tuning-specific scale diagram
B Major (Ionian) Scale in Open A Tuning
B Major (Ionian) Scale in Open A Tuning shows the same b major (ionian) scale pitch classes across 6 strings tuned E A E A C# E. The tuning changes where the same pitch classes sit across the fretboard.
- Scale notes
- B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Semitones
- 0 2 4 5 7 9 11
- Parent scale
- B major
- Tuning
- E A E A C# E
- Strings
- 6
- Open pitch range
- E2 to E4
- 24-fret range
- E2 to E6
Open strings and root positions
4 of the 6 open strings belong to B Major (Ionian) Scale: string 6 E (4), string 4 E (4), string 2 C# (2), and string 1 E (4). None of those open-string tones is the B root, so the root must be fretted on every string.
String 6E4
String 4E4
String 2C#2
String 1E4
First root on each string
String 6Fret 7
String 5Fret 2
String 4Fret 7
String 3Fret 2
String 2Fret 10
String 1Fret 7
Low-string pattern
On the lowest E string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, with the B root at fret 7. On the highest E string, the first B is at fret 7.
OpenE4
Fret 2F#5
Fret 4G#6
Fret 6A#7
Fret 7B1
Fret 9C#2
Fret 11D#3
Practice this tuning-specific layout
- Play B Major (Ionian) Scale on the low E string at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
- Build a phrase that lets E on open string 6 ring, then connect it to the nearest B root and two other scale tones.
- Connect the B root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 7, 2, 7, 2, 10, and 7, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.
Fretboard diagram
Open this diagram in the fretboard tool
Start with B Major (Ionian) Scale and open a tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboardReference pages
Related diagrams in this tuning
B Major Pentatonic Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningB Major Blues Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningB Mixolydian Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningB Lydian Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningC# Dorian Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningEb Phrygian Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningE Lydian Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningF# Mixolydian Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningAb Natural Minor (Aeolian) Guitar ScaleOpen A TuningBb Locrian Guitar ScaleOpen A Tuning
Related arpeggio diagrams in this tuning
Same scale in other tunings
E Flat Standard TuningEb Ab Db Gb Bb EbD Standard TuningD G C F A DC Standard TuningC F Bb Eb G CB Standard TuningB E A D F# BDrop D TuningD A D G B EDrop C# TuningC# G# C# F# A# D#Drop C TuningC G C F A DDrop B TuningB F# B E G# C#DADGAD TuningD A D G A DOpen E TuningE B E G# B EOpen D TuningD A D F# A DOpen G TuningD G D G B DOpen C TuningC G C G C E7-String Standard TuningB E A D G B E7-String Drop A TuningA E A D G B E7-String Drop G TuningG D G C F A D8-String Standard TuningF# B E A D G B E8-String Drop E TuningE B E A D G B E