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A blues diminished scale on bass guitar
A blues diminished runs A, B♭, C, C♯, E♭, E, F♯, G. Start in Box 1 to keep the root under your first finger.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the A blues diminished scale on bass?
A blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2, 3 | E, F♯, G |
| 3 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | A, B♭, C |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, E |
| 1 (G) | 0, 2, 3 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | C, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4, 5 | E, F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | A, B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 5 and the D string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7 | E♭, E |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, C♯, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, C♯, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10 | F♯, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, E, F♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A blues diminished in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, E♭, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | F♯, G, A |
Why it sounds like that
A blues diminished adds a ♭2 to the A hungarian major scale, which supplies the other seven notes. The scale contains a tritone between A and E♭, but no leading tone. Compare it with A hungarian major.
When to use it
A blues diminished fits A major and A minor chords for blues lines. It also works over B♭ diminished and B♭ diminished 7th in passing. Use it in A blues progressions when you need a darker, chromatic edge.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: it keeps the A root on string 4, fret 5 and string 1, fret 2. That position covers frets 0–3 and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in A blues diminished?
A blues diminished contains A, B♭, C, C♯, E♭, E, F♯, and G. The scale degrees are 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, and ♭7. It has eight notes total.
What chords does A blues diminished fit?
A blues diminished fits A major and A minor chords. It also works over B♭ diminished and B♭ diminished 7th chords. Use it for blues lines with a chromatic twist.
What is the difference between A blues diminished and A hungarian major?
A blues diminished adds a ♭2 to A hungarian major. A hungarian major has seven notes: A, C, C♯, E♭, E, F♯, G. The blues diminished version includes B♭ as the extra note.
Does A blues diminished contain a tritone?
A blues diminished contains a tritone between A and E♭. That interval is a diminished fifth, six semitones above the root. It does not contain a leading tone.