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A♭ natural minor scale on bass guitar
A♭ natural minor uses A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 4 for a low position.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ natural minor scale on bass?
A♭ natural minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–4
A♭ natural minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 4, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the E string at fret 2 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4 | B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ natural minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4 and the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
A♭ natural minor in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
A♭ natural minor in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
A♭ natural minor in box 6 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 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ natural minor derives from A♭ minor pentatonic by adding B♭ and F♭. The scale follows W, H, W, W, H, W, W. Those two added notes create the 9 and ♭6 intervals. Compare with A♭ minor pentatonic to hear the difference.
When to use it
A♭ natural minor fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. Use it over progressions like A♭m–F♭–C♭–G♭. The scale suits jazz, metal, and classical bass lines. Try it with A♭ minor or A♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 4, keeping the hand low on the neck.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ natural minor?
A♭ natural minor contains A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The scale follows the pattern W, H, W, W, H, W, W. Play these notes from A♭ to A♭ to hear the natural minor sound. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ natural minor?
A♭ natural minor works over A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. It also fits progressions in the key of A♭ minor. Use it with chords built from the scale, like F♭ major and G♭ major.
How does A♭ natural minor differ from A♭ minor pentatonic?
A♭ natural minor adds two notes to A♭ minor pentatonic: B♭ and F♭. These notes create the 9th and ♭6 intervals. The pentatonic scale has five notes, while natural minor has seven.