Explore scales · Bass
E♭ major scale on bass guitar
E♭ major contains E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 with a root on string 2, fret 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the E♭ major scale on bass?
E♭ 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, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ major 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 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, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 6–8
E♭ major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 8, 8 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, 8 | B♭, C |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ 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 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, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
Box 5 · frets 11–13
E♭ major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 13, 8 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 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ major is built from the whole-step, whole-step, half-step pattern W, W, H, W, W, W, H. It is the Ionian mode of E♭. Compare its seven notes to the five-note E♭ major pentatonic, which omits A♭ and D.
When to use it
E♭ major fits E♭ major and E♭ 5th chords. Use it over I–IV–V progressions in E♭, such as E♭–A♭–B♭. The flat third gives this key a mellow, rounded tone in bass lines.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It places the root E♭ on string 2, fret 1 and keeps the scale within frets 1–4.
Common questions
What notes are in the E♭ major scale?
E♭ major contains E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D. The scale follows the pattern W, W, H, W, W, W, H. These notes form the Ionian mode on E♭. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit the E♭ major scale?
E♭ major fits E♭ major and E♭ 5th chords. It also works over the diatonic chords of E♭ major. Use it for progressions like E♭–A♭–B♭.
What is the difference between E♭ major and E♭ major pentatonic?
E♭ major has seven notes; E♭ major pentatonic has five. The pentatonic omits A♭ and D. The full scale adds the fourth and seventh degrees.