Explore scales · Bass
E♭ blues major scale on bass guitar
E♭ blues major contains E♭, F, G♭, G, B♭, and C. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 with root on string 2, fret 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the E♭ blues major scale on bass?
E♭ blues major 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, 2, 3 | F, G♭, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3 | B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ blues major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 9 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 6 | G, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 6 | C, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 4, 5 | F, G♭, G |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ blues major 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 G♭ on the G string at fret 11. 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, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9, 10 | F, G♭, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ blues major adds a minor 3rd to E♭ major pentatonic. The scale contains a tritone between G♭ and C, but no leading tone. Its step pattern is W, H, H, 1½, W, 1½. Compare it with E♭ major pentatonic.
When to use it
E♭ blues major fits E♭ major and E♭ minor chords. Use it over 12-bar blues in E♭ and rock progressions. Try it over E♭ major and E♭ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. Its root on string 2, fret 1 keeps the scale low and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ blues major?
E♭ blues major contains E♭, F, G♭, G, B♭, and C. The scale includes both minor and major 3rds. It has a tritone between G♭ and C. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does E♭ blues major fit?
E♭ blues major fits E♭ major and E♭ minor chords. It also works over F 5th and B♭ 5th. Use it for blues and rock bass lines.
How is E♭ blues major different from E♭ major pentatonic?
E♭ blues major adds a G♭ to E♭ major pentatonic. This creates a minor 3rd alongside the major 3rd. The added note gives a bluesy colour.