fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON DOUBLE BASS

A♭ Major Blues

Major pentatonic + the chromatic ♭3 passing tone. Country, rockabilly, and bluegrass colour.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: synthesised in-browser via Tone.js (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title A♭ Major Blues Verovio
Keyboard
BCFBCFBCFA♭B♭E♭A♭B♭E♭A♭B♭E♭
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the A♭ Major Blues scale?

The A♭ Major Blues scale uses the notes A♭, B♭, B, C, E♭, F (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Major Blues scale formula?

The Major Blues scale follows the interval pattern W H H W+H W W+H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on A♭ to get the A♭ Major Blues scale.

What chords work over A♭ Major Blues?

Major Blues works over the I7 / IV7 / V7 of country / bluegrass / rockabilly progressions. The ♭3 is a passing tone.

How do I finger A♭ Major Blues on Double Bass?

On bowed strings, scales train both fingering and bow technique. First-position fingerings cover most scales up to one octave; second-, third-, and fourth-position shifts unlock the higher register. The 1-2-3-4 finger pattern adapts to the half-step + whole-step positions per scale.

When would I use the Major Blues scale?

Major pentatonic + the chromatic ♭3 passing tone. Country, rockabilly, and bluegrass colour.