Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
B♭ Ionian ♯5
♯5 on a major scale. Bright with an unsettled lift.
Where you hear it: Over maj7♯5 (the III+ of harmonic minor).
Step pattern W – W – H – W+H – H – W – H
- Parent scale: G harmonic minor (starts on its 3rd degree)
- Compared with B♭ major: ♯5 F → F♯
- Compared with B♭ natural minor: ♯3 D♭ → D, ♯5 F → F♯, ♯6 G♭ → G, ♯7 A♭ → A
B♭ Ionian ♯5 on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r 2 3 ♯5 6: playedother notes of Ionian ♯5: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as B♭ Ionian ♯5
Every chord in B♭ Ionian ♯5
- B♭maj7♯51/9easyfret 6· shell
- Cm71/23easyfret 3· shell
- D71/19easyopen
- E♭maj71/16easyfret 11· shell
- F♯dim71/4easyfret 4
- Gm(maj7)1/4mediumfret 10
- Am7♭51/14easyfret 5· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in B♭ Ionian ♯5
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
I+ – IV
The augmented tonic has a ♯5 that sits a half step below the 6th. When the IV arrives that note resolves up into it.
ii – III – vi
The III is a dominant 7th chord. Its 3rd, the ♯5 of the scale, is also the major 7th of the vi chord, so one note links both chords.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From B♭aug you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of B♭ Ionian ♯5.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.