B Whole-Half Scale on Bass Guitar: Notes

How it is built

B1C♯2D♭3E4E♯♯4F♯♯♯5G♯6A♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♯4, ♯5, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

B1B Diminished B Diminished 7th B Diminished Major 7th
C♯2C♯ Major C♯ Minor C♯ 5th C♯ 7th C♯ Minor 7th C♯ 7th Flat 5 C♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th C♯ 6th C♯ Minor 6th C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th
D♭3D Diminished D Diminished 7th D Diminished Major 7th
E4E Major E Minor E 5th E 7th E Minor 7th E 7th Flat 5 E Minor 7th Flat 5th E 6th E Minor 6th E Diminished E Diminished 7th
E♯♯4F Diminished F Diminished 7th F Diminished Major 7th
F♯♯♯5G Major G Minor G 5th G 7th G Minor 7th G 7th Flat 5 G Minor 7th Flat 5th G 6th G Minor 6th G Diminished G Diminished 7th
G♯6A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th A♭ Diminished Major 7th
A♯7B♭ Major B♭ Minor B♭ 5th B♭ 7th B♭ Minor 7th B♭ 7th Flat 5 B♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th B♭ 6th B♭ Minor 6th B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th

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 A♯ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	0, 1, 3	E, E♯, F♯♯
3 (A)	1, 2	A♯, B
2 (D)	0, 2, 3	D, E, E♯
1 (G)	0, 1, 3	F♯♯, G♯, A♯

Box 2 · frets 3–6

B whole-half in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F♯♯ on the E string at fret 3 up to C♯ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	3, 4, 6	F♯♯, G♯, A♯
3 (A)	4, 5	C♯, D
2 (D)	3, 5, 6	E♯, F♯♯, G♯
1 (G)	3, 4, 6	A♯, B, C♯

Box 3 · frets 7–10

B whole-half in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E♯ on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 7 and the D string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D
3 (A)	7, 8, 10	E, E♯, F♯♯
2 (D)	8, 9	A♯, B
1 (G)	7, 9, 10	D, E, E♯

Box 4 · frets 9–12

B whole-half in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to F♯♯ on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the D string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	9, 10, 12	C♯, D, E
3 (A)	10, 11	F♯♯, G♯
2 (D)	9, 11, 12	B, C♯, D
1 (G)	9, 10, 12	E, E♯, F♯♯

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, D 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 1 first. It keeps the root under your first finger and spans frets 0–3, 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.

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, D 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.