SCALE · ON BASS
E Major
The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.
Tempo120 bpm
Audio source: FluidR3_GM SoundFont (public domain)
Related scalesDiatonic chord harmonisation Same scale, other instruments Same scale, other tonics Modes built on this tonic Compare with Theory reference
RelativeC♯ Natural MinorSame seven notes, tonic on the 6th degree — your access to the related minor key.ParallelE Natural MinorSame tonic, the parallel minor — the deepest mode flip in tonal music.Up a fifthB MajorOne sharp brighter on the circle of fifths.Up a fourthA MajorOne flat darker on the circle of fifths.One note differentE LydianRaise the 4th — the bright, floating Lydian colour.One note differentE MixolydianLower the 7th — folk, blues-rock, Celtic vocabulary.SubsetE Pentatonic MajorFive notes from the same scale — the bedrock pentatonic.ExoticE Harmonic MajorBorrow the ♭6 from minor — operatic edge, IV / iv6 colour.
Questions
What notes are in the E Major scale?
The E Major scale uses the notes E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).
What chords work over E Major?
The diatonic chords of E major: E major, ii minor, iii minor, IV major, V major (or V7), vi minor, vii°. Strong cadences use IV→V→I.
How do I finger E Major on Bass?
Singing scales (solfège) trains pitch accuracy + interval recognition. Use moveable Do (Do = tonic) so any scale starts on Do. The major scale solfège (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do) is the universal pattern.
When would I use the Major scale?
The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.