Explore scales · Bass
F♯ blues diminished scale on bass guitar
F♯ blues diminished runs F♯, G, A, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, E. Practise Box 2 to keep the root on string 4, fret 2.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the F♯ blues diminished scale on bass?
F♯ blues diminished in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A♯ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the E string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2, 3 | E, F♯, G |
| 3 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | A, A♯, C |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 0, 2, 3 | G, A, A♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
F♯ blues diminished in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 2 and the D string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | C, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4, 5 | E, F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | A, A♯, C |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
F♯ blues diminished in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to D♯ on the G string at fret 8. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, A♯, C |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7 | D♯, E |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, A♯ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, C♯, D♯ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
F♯ blues diminished in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10 | F♯, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | A♯, C, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | D♯, E, F♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F♯ blues diminished in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 11 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the E string at fret 14 and the G string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | A, A♯ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | F♯, G, A |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ blues diminished adds a ♭2 to the F♯ hungarian major scale, which supplies the other seven notes. The scale contains a tritone between F♯ and C, but no leading tone. Compare it with F♯ hungarian major.
When to use it
F♯ blues diminished fits F♯ major and F♯ minor chords for blues lines. It also works over G diminished and G diminished 7th in passing. Use it in F♯ blues progressions when you need a darker, chromatic edge.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 2 first: it keeps the F♯ root on string 4, fret 2 and string 2, fret 4. That position covers frets 2–5 and sets up Box 3.
Common questions
What notes are in F♯ blues diminished?
F♯ blues diminished contains F♯, G, A, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, and E. The scale degrees are 1, ♭2, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, and ♭7. It has eight notes total. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords does F♯ blues diminished fit?
F♯ blues diminished fits F♯ major and F♯ minor chords. It also works over G diminished and G diminished 7th chords. Use it for blues lines with a chromatic twist.
What is the difference between F♯ blues diminished and F♯ hungarian major?
F♯ blues diminished adds a ♭2 to F♯ hungarian major. F♯ hungarian major has seven notes: F♯, A, A♯, C, C♯, D♯, E. The blues diminished version includes G as the extra note.
Does F♯ blues diminished contain a tritone?
F♯ blues diminished contains a tritone between F♯ and C. That interval is a diminished fifth, six semitones above the root. It does not contain a leading tone.