Electric Bass
Bass Scales
The major scale on the bass, with the fingering written on the neck. Because the bass is tuned in straight fourths, one shape is the same in all twelve keys — learn it once, move it anywhere.
Shape
Show
Start on
C major ·One Octave·E string · fret 8
8 notes
Fingering
2 · 4 — 1 · 2 · 4 — 1 · 3 · 4
Three strings, one hand position, nothing to move. The shape to own first — it is the same in every key and on every string.
C
1
2
D
2
4
E
3
1
F
4
2
G
5
4
A
6
1
B
7
3
C
1
4
C major
C1
D2
E3
F4
G5
A6
B7
Steps
W W H W W W H
The parent of most Western music — bright, resolved, and the yardstick every other scale is measured against.
Root
3rd
5th
7th
Other scale tone
1–4Left-hand finger