Tuning-specific scale diagram

F# Major (Ionian) Scale in Drop B Tuning

F# Major (Ionian) Scale in Drop B Tuning shows the same f# major (ionian) scale pitch classes across 6 strings tuned B F# B E G# C#. The tuning changes where the same pitch classes sit across the fretboard.

Scale notes
F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#
Formula
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Semitones
0 2 4 5 7 9 11
Parent scale
F# major
Tuning
B F# B E G# C#
Strings
6
Open pitch range
B1 to C#4
24-fret range
B1 to C#6

Open strings and root positions

5 of the 6 open strings belong to F# Major (Ionian) Scale: string 6 B (4), string 5 F# (1), string 4 B (4), string 2 G# (2), and string 1 C# (5). F# roots occur on open string 5.

String 6B4
String 5F#1
String 4B4
String 2G#2
String 1C#5

First root on each string

String 6Fret 7
String 5Open
String 4Fret 7
String 3Fret 2
String 2Fret 10
String 1Fret 5

Low-string pattern

On the lowest B string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, with the F# root at fret 7. On the highest C# string, the first F# is at fret 5.

OpenB4
Fret 2C#5
Fret 4D#6
Fret 6E#7
Fret 7F#1
Fret 9G#2
Fret 11A#3

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play F# Major (Ionian) Scale on the low B string at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Build a phrase that lets B on open string 6 ring, then connect it to the nearest F# root and two other scale tones.
  3. Connect the F# root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 7, 0, 7, 2, 10, and 5, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

F# Major (Ionian) Scale in Drop B Tuning fretboard diagram
F# Major (Ionian) Scale in Drop B Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing B F# B E G# C#.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with F# Major (Ionian) Scale and drop b tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Reference pages

Same scale in other tunings