Explore scales · Bass
E♭ aeolian dominant scale on bass guitar
E♭ aeolian dominant uses E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. Box 1 places the root on string 2, fret 1 for a low start.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ aeolian dominant scale on bass?
E♭ aeolian dominant 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 C♭ on the G string at fret 4. 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, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ aeolian dominant 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, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ aeolian dominant 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 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) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
E♭ aeolian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ aeolian dominant 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 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) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
Raise the third of E♭ natural minor to G and you get E♭ aeolian dominant. The pattern is W, W, H, W, H, W, W. Compare it with E♭ natural minor to hear the major third against the minor sixth.
When to use it
Use E♭ aeolian dominant over E♭ major or E♭ 5th chords when the progression has a ♭6 colour. It suits klezmer, fusion, and metal riffs. Try it over E♭ major or E♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. The root sits under your first finger on string 2, fret 1, and the range covers frets 1–4 for easy access.
Common questions
Which notes are in E♭ aeolian dominant?
The notes are E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D♭. The intervals are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. The scale has a major third and a minor sixth. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords fit E♭ aeolian dominant?
The tonic chord is E♭ major or E♭ 5th. Other chords include F minor 7th flat 5th, G 7th flat 5th, A♭ minor, B♭ minor, C♭ augmented, and D♭ major. Use the scale over these chords in E♭.
How does E♭ aeolian dominant differ from E♭ natural minor?
E♭ aeolian dominant has a major third (G) instead of the minor third (G♭) in E♭ natural minor. The rest of the notes are the same. This change creates a dominant seventh sound on the tonic.