Explore scales · Bass
F major pentatonic scale on bass guitar
F major pentatonic contains F, G, A, C, and D. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 1 and string 2, fret 3.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the F major pentatonic scale on bass?
F major pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 8 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 8 | A, C |
| 3 (A) | 5, 8 | D, F |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 1 (G) | 5, 7 | C, D |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
F major pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 13 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 13 | D, F |
| 3 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 2 (D) | 10, 12 | C, D |
| 1 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
Why it sounds like that
F major pentatonic drops the fourth and seventh degrees from F major, leaving 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. The intervals are 0, 2, 4, 7, and 9 semitones, producing steps of W, W, 1½, W, 1½. This five-note structure avoids half-step dissonance.
When to use it
F major pentatonic fits F major and F 5th chords. It works over F major progressions and is common in funk and pop bass lines.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root under your first finger on string 4, fret 1 and covers frets 5–8.
Common questions
What notes are in F major pentatonic?
F major pentatonic contains F, G, A, C, and D. These are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees of F major. The scale omits the 4th and 7th degrees.
Which chords does F major pentatonic fit?
F major pentatonic fits F major and F 5th chords. It also works over F major progressions. Use it for bass lines in major keys.
How do I practise F major pentatonic?
Start with Box 1 and play the notes ascending and descending. Use a metronome at 60 bpm and gradually increase speed. Connect to Box 2 by shifting to the next root position.