E 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

EADGEGAB♭BDEAB♭BDEGADEGAB♭BDGAB♭BDEG0123456789101112
EADGEGAB♭BDEAB♭BDEGADEGAB♭BDGAB♭BDEG0123456789101112

Open position

EADGEGAB♭BDEGAB♭0123
EADGEGAB♭BDEGAB♭0123

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

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Eroot
2Gminor third
3Aperfect fourth
4B♭ (B flat)diminished fifth
5Bperfect fifth
6Dminor seventh

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

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

Other E scales

The same scale in other keys