Explore scales · Bass
B♭ whole-half scale on bass guitar
B♭ whole-half contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, E, F♯, G, A. Box 2 sets the root on string 4, fret 6 for a mid-neck diminished shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ whole-half scale on bass?
B♭ whole-half 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 1 and the G string at fret 3.
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
B♭ whole-half 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 G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4, 5 | E, F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | A, B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E on the G string at fret 9. 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, 7, 9 | E♭, E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, E |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ whole-half 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. 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) | 9, 10 | F♯, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, E, F♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ whole-half 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 13.
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 | D♭, E♭, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | F♯, G, A |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ whole-half is an eight-note diminished scale built by alternating whole and half steps. It differs from B♭ bebop melodic minor by raising the fifth to F♯ and adding E. The scale contains a tritone between B♭ and E and a leading tone A. Compare it with B♭ bebop melodic minor.
When to use it
Use B♭ whole-half over B♭ diminished and B♭ diminished 7th chords. It also fits C major, C minor, C♯ diminished, and E♭ major. The leading tone A pulls strongly to B♭, making it effective in dominant contexts. For chord options, see B♭ diminished and C major.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 2 first. It keeps the root under your first finger and spans frets 2–5, ideal for learning the alternating step pattern.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ whole-half?
B♭ whole-half contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, E, F♯, G, A. The scale alternates whole and half steps from the root. It is an eight-note diminished scale. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ whole-half fit?
B♭ whole-half fits B♭ diminished and B♭ diminished 7th chords. It also works over C major, C minor, C♯ diminished, and E♭ major. The scale's leading tone A resolves to B♭.
How is B♭ whole-half different from B♭ bebop melodic minor?
B♭ whole-half raises the fifth to F♯ and adds E compared to B♭ bebop melodic minor. The bebop scale has a natural fifth F and no E. This gives the whole-half scale its diminished colour.