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