Bass Guitar Scales Revelation: The Importance Of The Major Scale December 8, 2007

Though the straight major scale may not be your cup of tea, it is the gateway to mastery of all other bass guitar scales.  It is the scale against which all other scales are defined.

For example, take the C major scale.

If we define each note in terms of a number:

C = 1

D = 2

E = 3

F = 4

G = 5

A = 6

B = 7

And we know that a Mixolydian scale has the formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7,

we can easily find a C Mixolydian scale:

C D E F G A Bb

Try to apply these scale definitions to C:

Dorian: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

Phrygian: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Lydian: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

Mixolydian: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7

Aeolian: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Locrian: 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

These are the modes of the major scale.  More on modes later.

Good Luck!