Explore scales · Bass
D blues major scale on bass guitar
D blues major contains D, E, F, F♯, A, and B. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 with roots on string 3, fret 5 and string 1, fret 7.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the D blues major scale on bass?
D blues major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 9 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A on the G string at fret 2. The root falls on the D string at fret 0.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 2 | E, F, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 2 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 1 (G) | 2 | A |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
D blues major in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 5 | F♯, A |
| 3 (A) | 2, 5 | B, D |
| 2 (D) | 2, 3, 4 | E, F, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
D blues major in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 10 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to F on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 10 | B, D |
| 3 (A) | 7, 8, 9 | E, F, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 1 (G) | 7, 9, 10 | D, E, F |
Why it sounds like that
D blues major adds a minor 3rd to D major pentatonic. The scale contains a tritone between F and B, but no leading tone. Its step pattern is W, H, H, 1½, W, 1½. Compare it with D major pentatonic.
When to use it
D blues major fits D major and D minor chords. Use it over 12-bar blues in D and rock progressions. Try it over D major and D minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. Its root on string 3, fret 5 keeps the scale low and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in D blues major?
D blues major contains D, E, F, F♯, A, and B. The scale includes both minor and major 3rds. It has a tritone between F and B.
Which chords does D blues major fit?
D blues major fits D major and D minor chords. It also works over E 5th and A 5th. Use it for blues and rock bass lines.
How is D blues major different from D major pentatonic?
D blues major adds an F to D major pentatonic. This creates a minor 3rd alongside the major 3rd. The added note gives a bluesy colour.