B flat blues scale on bass

The blues scale is a minor pentatonic with an added flat fifth, the “blue note”. This passing note gives blues, rock and jazz their signature sound.

On the whole neck

EADGF♭FA♭B♭D♭E♭F♭B♭D♭E♭F♭FA♭E♭F♭FA♭B♭D♭A♭B♭D♭E♭F♭F0123456789101112
EADGF♭FA♭B♭D♭E♭F♭B♭D♭E♭F♭FA♭E♭F♭FA♭B♭D♭A♭B♭D♭E♭F♭F0123456789101112

Position from fret 6

EADGB♭D♭E♭F♭FA♭B♭D♭E♭F♭6789
EADGB♭D♭E♭F♭FA♭B♭D♭E♭F♭6789

Root notes are filled. The position starts from the root on the 4th string (low E).

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1B♭ (B flat)root
2D♭ (D flat)minor third
3E♭ (E flat)perfect fourth
4F♭ (F flat)diminished fifth
5Fperfect fifth
6A♭ (A flat)minor seventh

Steps between notes: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

The blues scale is the B flat minor pentatonic scale plus the flat fifth, the “blue note”.

Other B♭ scales

The same scale in other keys