This is a simple bass lesson on the Major Scale for beginners.

What Is A Scale?

A scale is any set of notes in alphabetical order between a root note and its octave. A root (or tonic) is the first note of a scale.

Here are the notes in the C Major scale:

C D E F G A B 

Building A Major Scale

Scales are created using different combinations of whole and half steps.

  • A half step, or semitone, is the distance between two notes played one fret apart from each other on the bass.
  • A whole step, or tone, is a distance of two frets.

In a major scale, the formula is:

Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half 

The C Major Scale

We are going to play this scale starting on the third fret of the A string. Using the formula above, the notes can be worked out by adding a whole or half step each time.

Here is the scale notated:

Moving Scales Around The Neck 

To practice moving this pattern around the neck, you can repeat the scale moving up one fret each time. So if you started on C, you would play a C Major, then a C# Major, then a D Major etc.

You can also play this shape starting on the E string. Try the same exercise starting on the G on the third fret of the E string.

Try alternating the fingers on your right hand for a harder challenge.

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