Bass scales
Scales for bass guitar with diagrams and explanation.
What follows is a guide trough different scale categories for bass players. The fingerboard diagrams are based on standard tuning (EADG). See other tunings for 5-string bass below.
Major
The Major scale is the most important in Western music and a good start when learning scales on bass.
One-octave pattern, root on 3rd string
The fingerboard diagram below shows a C Major scale with the first root note on 3rd string. The scale is movable and can be used for all Major scales (which can be found by using the top menu).
Intervals: 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1
C Major scale tablature.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.
One-octave pattern, root on 4th string
It is, however, good to use more than one scale position. The diagram below shows a G Major with the first root on 4th string.
Intervals: 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1
G Major scale tablature.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.
Bass scales in pdf
Scales in all keys for pdf download.
Choose between scales presented with fingerings as tabs or tabs together with standard notation.
Minor
The Minor scale is next to Major the most important and fundamental knowledge in music.
One-octave pattern, root on 3rd string
The fingerboard diagram below shows a D Minor scale with the first root note on 3rd string. The scale is movable and can be used for all Minor scales.
Intervals: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2
D Minor scale tablature.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.
One-octave pattern, root on 4th string
As mention earlier, it is good to use more than one scale position. The diagram below shows an A Minor with the first root on 4th string.
Intervals: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2
A Minor scale tablature.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.
Bass scales in pdf
Scales in all keys for pdf download.
Choose between scales presented with fingerings as tabs or tabs together with standard notation.
The relationship between bass and guitar scales
As long as you stick with the standard tuning (EADG), the scales for bass will be "same" as for the guitar. The shapes can, however, differ since four strings instead of six are involved. One-octave shapes will often be the same, but not two-octave shapes. The four-stringed bass are normally stringed as the for lowest (thickest) strings on the guitar.
See also The Bass Scale Collection eBook for graphical overviews of scales in all keys in different categories.
5-string bass
The 5-string bass is relatively common and there are two standard tunings: BEADG and EADGC.
Major scale in BEADG tuning
The fingerboard diagram below shows a C Major scale for one octave with a three notes per string shape. The scale is movable and can be used for all Major scales.
Major scale in EADGC tuning
The fingerboard diagram below shows a C Major scale for one octave with the first root note on 3rd string. The scale is movable and can be used for all Major scales.
Scales in all 17 keys
The scale categories covered so far are Major, Natural Minor, Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic and the modal scales. More categories will be included in coming updates.
- C bass scales
- C# bass scales
- Db bass scales
- D bass scales
- D# bass scales
- Eb bass scales
- E bass scales
- F bass scales
- F# bass scales
- Gb bass scales
- G bass scales
- G# bass scales
- Ab bass scales
- A bass scales
- A# bass scales
- Bb bass scales
- B bass scales