On this page you’ll find a useful bass scales chart with patterns for three of the most commonly-used bass guitar scales.
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Page Index
Bass Scales Chart
The bass scales chart below shows three common bass scales (pentatonic minor, blues and major) as patterns on a fretboard. They show the scales as played on a 4 string bass with standard tuning.
Scroll down to download a printable pdf version of the chart, with no log-in or sign-up required.
Pentatonic Scale
Strictly speaking, a pentatonic scale is any scale that is comprised of 5 notes. However, when most people talk about the pentatonic scale they are referring to either one of two scales: the pentatonic minor scale, or the pentatonic major scale.
In the majority of cases, they’ll be referring to the pentatonic minor scale, which is the one we’ve included in the bass scales chart above.
The pentatonic minor scale is extremely versatile, and can be used in a number of musical situations. These include: writing rock / metal basslines and licks; improvising over minor chord progressions; and writing folk melodies.
Blues Scale
The blues scale is simply a pentatonic minor scale that has been embellished with a single, additional note. This is the flattened fifth degree of the scale, a note that is also known as the ‘flat 5’, or ‘blues note’.
Blues scales, as the name suggests, have a ‘bluesy’ sound. This common scale is used not only in blues, but also in rock, metal, jazz and many other musical styles.
Major Scale
The major scale is the ‘standard’ scale used in western music. It comprises 7 notes (8 including the octave), spaced: whole tone, whole tone, semitone, whole tone, whole tone, whole tone, semitone. (On the bass fretboard, adjacent frets are a semitone apart. Therefore a whole tone interval means skipping a fret.)
- Find out more about whole tones and semitones at Wikipedia: Whole Tones, Semitones.
Free Printable Bass Scales Chart
You can download and print a pdf version of the bass scales chart by clicking here or on the image above. (The links take you to the pdf version of the chart; there’s no log-in or sign-up required.)
The chart can be printed on a single piece of paper and will make a useful reference for the wall of your practice room.
If you have any questions about the scales on this page then feel free to ask them in the comments below; we’re happy to help.
![Scale Gitar Lengkap Pdf Scale Gitar Lengkap Pdf](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ScK3h1FibU/UP4BAyzYBhI/AAAAAAAAAMk/DGy-0EBMQiM/s640/blues+scale.gif)
Learning Bass Scales: eBook & Bass Backing Tracks
Having a good knowledge of bass scales is an useful skill for a bass guitarist. Scales are used in writing basslines, in improvisation and in songwriting.
If you’re interested in learning more bass scales, as well as bass arpeggios and bass chords, then check out our book: Bass Guitar Scales, Chords and Arpeggios. It’s available either as a pdf download or as a physical book.
We also publish two bass backing tracks albums designed to help you learn & practice scales:
Our Bass Scales Backing Tracks album contains a selection of tracks, each of which allows you play along using a specific scale. Use the tracks to invent bass lines or to improvise bass solos. See more information and hear sample tracks on this page.
Our Bass Modes Backing Tracks album contains tracks that allow you to experiment with modal scales. Modal scales are scales derived from the major scale, with each one having its own individual sound. Our backing tracks will help you learn and master modes on your bass guitar. See more information and hear sample tracks on this page.
Bass Scale Patterns
One big difference in how most guitarists and players of non-fretted instruments learn scales is that guitarists learn scales in shapes, or patterns, rather than by learning the actual sequence of notes contained in each scale.
Patterns show where the notes fall on the bass neck in relation to each other. This way, a single pattern can be used to play the scale at any fretboard position, and therefore in any key.
On the bass scales chart below, you’ll find patterns that will allow you to play the pentatonic minor, blues, and major scales in any key.
Why Is There More Than One Scale Pattern Included For Each Scale?
Bass guitarists learn and use multiple scale patterns for each scale. This allows them to play the scale at a convenient fretboard position.
If, for example, you only knew how to play a minor pentatonic scale using pattern no. 1 on the bass scales chart below, then if the song was in D you’d find yourself playing at the 10th fret.
Because that’s a relatively high position on the fretboard, your bass line would be missing out on some lower notes – basically anything under the 10th fret on the 4th (lowest) string.
If you also knew how to play the pentatonic minor scale using pattern no. 3 on the scale chart, then you’d be able to play a D pentatonic minor scale lower down the neck. That way you’d be able to include some nice low notes in your bass line.
If you knew multiple pentatonic minor patterns then you could extend the scale to incorporate all of the fretboard. By changing fretboard position while playing you could create fluid bass lines that went wherever your creative urge took them!
How To Use The Bass Scales Chart
The diagrams in the bass scales chart are scale ‘patterns’ or ‘shapes’. They depict where a bass guitarist’s fingers should play the notes in relation to each other, but don’t actually specify where on the fretboard the scale should be played.
Scale patterns do, however, show the root, or tonic, note of the scale. (On the bass scales chart above the root notes are depicted as the white circles.)
Therefore, in order to play a C major scale, you would play any of the major scale patterns shown above with the root note positioned at C note on the bass fretboard.
This means that, although learning scale patterns is the simplest way of learning scales on a bass guitar, you still have to know the notes on the fretboard.
Play the scale by positioning your hand so that the root note of the scale is positioned over the desired note on the bass fretboard (i.e. if you want to play a C major scale using pattern no. 1, then position your hand so that your middle finger is playing the 8th fret of the 4th (lowest) string.
To play a single octave of the scale, play upwards until you get to the next white (root) note.
Bass Scales Chart: Further Reading
- Complete bass scales online reference: Bass Scales
- Complete bass chords online reference: Bass Chords
- Download a copy of our book: Bass Guitar Scales, Chords and Arpeggios
- Check out our bass backing tracks: Bass Backing Tracks
Welcome to the complete guide to metal guitar scales. On this page you’ll find out what guitar scales are used in metal, what they sound like and how they’re played.
We’ve provided fretboard diagrams and tab, and we’ve also recorded some sample guitar solos so you can hear the scales being used.
Once you’re familiar with the scale shapes and the sounds that they produce, experiment by playing your own solos over the metal backing track at the bottom of the page.
Metal Guitar Scales Introduction
Metal guitarists use many different guitar scales in their riffs and solos. The scales we’ve listed below are among the most widely used in metal. However, this list is by no means definitive and there are many more.
The scales on this page are shown as fretboard diagrams, and also in tab with C as the root note.
The fretboard diagrams can be used to play the scale with any root note. The root note of the scale is shown with a green circle on the diagrams.
- Visit our main Guitar Scales Page to find even more sounds for your playing.
- You can download and print a pdf eBook containing these and many more scales in multiple fretboard positions. Find out more here: Guitar Scales Chart Book.
- If you want to practice these and other scales, you can download the backing track that we’ve used on this page here: Metal Backing Tracks.
When playing guitar scales, metal guitarists don’t always stick to the basic shapes – they often link patterns together and embellish their solos with vibrato, string bends, slides and tremolo effects. Once you know the scale patterns below, it’s time to get creative…
Metal Guitar Scales 1. Pentatonic Minor Scale
The pentatonic minor scale is widely used in many styles of music – not just in metal. It is a relatively simple scale, consisting of just five notes.
It sounds great over power chords and minor chord progressions.
Countless metal riffs use the pentatonic scale, and metal lead guitarists often use it in solos. Some guitarists base entire solos on it, while others use it as a fallback between licks using other scales.
Hear how the pentatonic minor scale sounds by playing the demo below:
https://www.guitarcommand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/metal-guitar-scales-pentatonic.mp3- Want to play the pentatonic minor scale in multiple fretboard positions? See more fretboard diagrams on this page: Pentatonic Scale Guitar.
Metal Guitar Scale #2. Blues Scale
The blues scale is basically the same scale as the pentatonic minor but with an additional note: the ‘flat five’, or ‘blues note’. Play the two scales to compare the difference in sound the additional note makes.
The blues scale is widely used in metal. It adds a nice bluesy sound to solos. You can hear the blues scale being used in the sample below.
https://www.guitarcommand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/metal-guitar-scales-blues.mp3- You can see more blues scales fretboard patterns and TAB on this page: Blues Scale Guitar
- Find out how to use blues scales here: How To Use Blues Scales
- Learn how to play blues riffs all over the fretboard here: Blues Licks Lesson
Metal Guitar Scales 3. Natural Minor (Aeolian Modal) Scale
One of the most useful guitar scales in metal, the natural minor scale (also called the Aeolian modal scale) can safely be used over most power chords and minor chords
https://www.guitarcommand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/metal-guitar-scales-natural-minor.mp3- Read more about the Aeolian modal scale and other modes here: Guitar Modes.
Metal Guitar Scales 4. Phrygian Modal Scale
Another modal guitar scale, the Phrygian contains the note a semitone above the scale root, making it a good sale to choose when the chord sequence features this kind of movement (i.e. ||: E | F | E | E :||, etc.). A very nice scale for shredding with!
Hear how it sounds in the audio sample below.
https://www.guitarcommand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/metal-guitar-scales-phrygian.mp3Metal Guitar Scales 5. Phrygian Dominant Scale
This scale has become very popular with metal guitarists. Use it when you want to give your solos an ‘Eastern’ sound. You can also use the Phrygian dominant scale to create riffs and melodies – it has a very distinctive sound that you will hear on many tracks.
- Find out how the Phrygian Dominant scale is constructed here: Phrygian Dominant Scale.
Metal Scale #6. Harmonic Minor Scale
Another useful guitar scale is the harmonic minor scale. This scale produces a typically ‘classical’ sound – you can read more about how it is constructed here: Harmonic Minor Scale Guitar
Metal Guitar Scales Backing Track
Using the guitar scales shown above, create your own solos over this metal backing track. The track is called ‘Solid Metal’ and comes from the Guitar Command Metal Backing Tracks album, available for instant download here.
https://www.guitarcommand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/metal-guitar-scales-backing-track.mp3Conclusion
We hope that you have enjoyed this selection of metal guitar scales. You’ll find even more scales to use in your lead playing here: Guitar Scales
For a downloadable eBook showing diagrams of guitar scales in multiple positions, see our Guitar Scales Chart book.