Explore scales · Bass
E♭ acoustic scale on bass guitar
E♭ acoustic contains E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C, D♭. Box 1 places the root on string 2, fret 1 for a low-position shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ acoustic scale on bass?
E♭ acoustic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 9 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 D string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ acoustic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
E♭ acoustic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ acoustic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 11 and the G 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, 10 | F, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ acoustic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 8 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 E string at fret 11 and the D string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 14 | G, A |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ acoustic is the fourth mode of B♭ melodic minor, built 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7. The ♯4 creates a tritone against the root, and the ♭7 removes the leading tone. Compare it to E♭ mixolydian, which lowers the ♯4 to a perfect 4th.
When to use it
E♭ acoustic fits E♭ major and E♭ 5th chords, and works over E♭7 in jazz-blues. The ♯4 adds a Lydian colour over dominant chords; resolve it to the 5th for a smooth line. Use it for fusion or modal rock in E♭.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root sits on string 2, fret 1, covering frets 1–4. It keeps the ♯4 reachable without shifting.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ acoustic?
E♭ acoustic contains E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C, D♭. The formula is 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does E♭ acoustic fit?
E♭ acoustic fits E♭ major and E♭ 5th chords. It also works over E♭7 in dominant contexts.
Is E♭ acoustic the same as E♭ mixolydian?
No. E♭ acoustic has a ♯4 (A), while E♭ mixolydian has a perfect 4th (A♭). The other six notes are identical.