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B♭ gypsy major scale on bass guitar
B♭ gypsy major uses B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, A. Box 2 places the root at string 4, fret 6 for a mid-neck stretch.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the B♭ gypsy major scale on bass?
B♭ gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 10 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2 | F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 4 | A, B♭, C♭ |
Box 2 · frets 6–9
B♭ gypsy major in box 2 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 10 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7 | B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8, 9 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 10–13
B♭ gypsy major in box 3 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11 | F, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ gypsy major is derived from B♭ phrygian dominant by raising the seventh degree A♭ to A. This alteration produces a leading tone and a wide interval between G♭ and A. See B♭ phrygian dominant for the base scale. The formula is 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7.
When to use it
B♭ gypsy major fits over B♭ major or B♭ 5th chords. It is common in metal and fusion for its exotic color. Try it over B♭ major or B♭ 5th progressions.
Which position to practise
Start with Box 2: the root is on string 4, fret 6, and the pattern spans frets 6–9. It gives access to the upper register and prepares for Box 3.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ gypsy major?
The notes are B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, and A. It has a flat second, major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, flat sixth, and major seventh. The scale is also known as Byzantine. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit B♭ gypsy major?
The tonic chord is B♭ major or B♭ 5th. The fifth degree chord is F 7th flat 5. Use it over dominant sounds in B♭.
How is B♭ gypsy major different from B♭ phrygian dominant?
B♭ gypsy major has a major seventh, A, while B♭ phrygian dominant has a minor seventh, A♭. That change creates a leading tone and a different resolution. The remaining notes are the same.