Tuning-specific scale diagram

B Minor Blues Scale in 8-String Drop E Tuning

B Minor Blues Scale in 8-String Drop E Tuning shows the same b minor blues scale pitch classes across 8 strings tuned E B E A D G B E. The seventh and eighth strings extend the pattern into the lower register for wider-range riffs and chord voicings.

Scale notes: B, D, E, F, F#, A
Formula: 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7
Semitones: 0 3 5 6 7 10
Tuning: E B E A D G B E
Strings: 8
Open pitch range: E1 to E4
24-fret range: E1 to E6

Open strings and root positions

7 of the 8 open strings belong to B Minor Blues Scale: string 8 E (4), string 7 B (1), string 6 E (4), string 5 A (b7), string 4 D (b3), string 2 B (1), and string 1 E (4). B roots occur on open strings 7 and 2.

String 8E4

String 7B1

String 6E4

String 5Ab7

String 4Db3

String 2B1

String 1E4

First root on each string

String 8Fret 7

String 7Open

String 6Fret 7

String 5Fret 2

String 4Fret 9

String 3Fret 4

String 2Open

String 1Fret 7

Low-string pattern

On the lowest E string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, and 10, with the B root at fret 7. On the highest E string, the first B is at fret 7.

OpenE4

Fret 1Fb5

Fret 2F#5

Fret 5Ab7

Fret 7B1

Fret 10Db3

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play B Minor Blues Scale on the low E string at frets 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, and 10, saying each note name and degree aloud.
Build a phrase that lets E on open string 8 ring, then connect it to the nearest B root and two other scale tones.
Connect the B root positions on strings 8 through 1 at frets 7, 0, 7, 2, 9, 4, 0, and 7, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.