Bass · 12 scales, 12 keys
Bass scales
The twelve scales bass players use most, each in all twelve keys: on the whole neck, in positions to learn one at a time, with the chords that go with it and the sound of every note. Start with the minor pentatonic, the first scale most players learn.
| Scale | Intervals | Example | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor pentatonic | 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 | A C D E G | Five notes with no half steps, so no note clashes. |
| Major pentatonic | 1 2 3 5 6 | C D E G A | The major scale without its 4th and 7th: sweet and open. |
| Blues | 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7 | A C D E♭ E G | The minor pentatonic with the flat 5th added: the blue note. |
| Major | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | C D E F G A B | The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. |
| Minor | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | A B C D E F G | The plain minor scale: the minor pentatonic with the 2nd and ♭6 filled in. |
| Scale | Intervals | Example | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorian | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 | A B C D E F♯ G | A minor scale with a major 6th, which keeps it from sounding sad. |
| Mixolydian | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7 | C D E F G A B♭ | A major scale with a flat 7th: the sound of rock, blues-rock and country over a dominant 7 chord. |
| Lydian | 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7 | C D E F♯ G A B | A major scale with a sharp 4th. |
| Phrygian | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | A B♭ C D E F G | A minor scale with a flat 2nd, one fret above the root. |
| Scale | Intervals | Example | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmonic minor | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 | A B C D E F G♯ | Natural minor with a raised 7th, which leads back up to the root and makes the V chord major. |
| Melodic minor | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 | A B C D E F♯ G♯ | A minor scale with a major 6th and 7th, or a major scale with a flat 3rd. |
| Phrygian dominant | 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 | E F G♯ A B C D | The fifth mode of harmonic minor: a flat 2nd with a major 3rd. |
Reading the neck charts
The neck is drawn as you see it in front of you, the lowest string at the bottom. Every dot is a note of the scale, coloured by its interval as the chords on Chordhalla are, the root a diamond. Switch the dots between intervals and note names on any scale's page.
Also: every bass chord, the chords in every key, the practice sheet maker, and scales on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.