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E♭ gypsy major scale on bass guitar
E♭ gypsy major uses E♭, F♭, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, D. Box 2 places the root at string 3, fret 6 for a comfortable position.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the E♭ gypsy major scale on bass?
E♭ gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the E string at fret 0 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) | 0, 3 | F♭, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 0, 1, 2 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ gypsy 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 4. 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) | 5, 6 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 6 | G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4 | B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ gypsy major 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 F♭ on the G string at fret 9. 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 | B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7 | E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 9 | D, E♭, F♭ |
Box 4 · frets 11–14
E♭ gypsy major in box 4 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 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, 12 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13, 14 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ gypsy major comes from E♭ phrygian dominant by raising the seventh degree D♭ to D. This creates a leading tone and an augmented second between C♭ and D. Compare with E♭ phrygian dominant to hear the change. The intervals are 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7.
When to use it
E♭ gypsy major works over E♭ major or E♭ 5th chords. It is useful in jazz and fusion for its altered dominant sound. Try it over E♭ major or E♭ 5th progressions.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 2 first: the root is on string 3, fret 6, and the pattern covers frets 3–6. It offers a comfortable mid-neck position and sets up Box 3.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ gypsy major?
The notes are E♭, F♭, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D. It has a flat second, major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, flat sixth, and major seventh. The scale is also known as Byzantine. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit E♭ gypsy major?
The tonic chord is E♭ major or E♭ 5th. The fifth degree chord is B♭ 7th flat 5. Use it over dominant sounds in E♭.
How is E♭ gypsy major different from E♭ phrygian dominant?
E♭ gypsy major has a major seventh, D, while E♭ phrygian dominant has a minor seventh, D♭. That change gives a stronger pull to the tonic. The rest of the notes are identical.