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E♭ gypsy minor scale on bass guitar
E♭ gypsy minor runs E♭, F, G♭, B♭♭, B♭, C♭, D. Its Box 1 root on string 2, fret 1 keeps the scale in first position.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♭5, 5, ♭6, 7
How do you play the E♭ gypsy minor scale on bass?
E♭ gypsy minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 10 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, 2 | F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 4 | B♭♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 2 · frets 5–8
E♭ gypsy minor in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 10 notes across 4 strings, from B♭♭ 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, 7 | B♭♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6, 8 | D, E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8 | B♭♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
E♭ gypsy minor in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C♭ on the E string at fret 7 up to F on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 10 | C♭, D |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9 | F, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8, 9 | B♭♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 10 | D, E♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 11–14
E♭ gypsy minor 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 B♭♭ 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, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13, 14 | B♭♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 14 | G♭, B♭♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ gypsy minor raises the fourth of E♭ harmonic minor to B♭♭, creating a ♭5 and an augmented second between G♭ and B♭♭. The major seventh D remains for a strong leading tone. Compare it with E♭ harmonic minor to hear the altered fourth.
When to use it
Use E♭ gypsy minor over E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords for a dark, exotic color. The ♭5 B♭♭ works over F 7th flat 5, and the major seventh D fits F♯ augmented. It suits Eastern European and Middle Eastern styles.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 2, fret 1, covering frets 1–4 and setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ gypsy minor?
The notes are E♭, F, G♭, B♭♭, B♭, C♭, D. It has a ♭3, ♭5, and major 7. The ♭5 creates an augmented second with the ♭3. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit E♭ gypsy minor?
E♭ minor and E♭ 5th are the tonic chords. F 7th flat 5 uses the ♭5, and F♯ augmented uses the ♭3 and ♯5. The major 7 D fits D major and D minor.
How does E♭ gypsy minor differ from E♭ harmonic minor?
E♭ gypsy minor raises the fourth degree to B♭♭. This creates a ♭5 and an augmented second between G♭ and B♭♭. The rest of the scale matches E♭ harmonic minor.