This is a B minor scale bass lesson.
You’ll learn how to visualize it across the fretboard, play it with 3 notes-per-string shapes, and finish by learning how to practice the scale (which includes playing one of my favorite bass riffs).
Let’s check it out.
Table of Contents
B minor scale bass fretboard diagram (showing intervals)
B Natural Minor Scale One Octave Bass Fingering
Notes in the B minor scale
B-C#-D-E-F#-G-A are the notes in the B minor scale, for bass guitar and any other instrument.
Chords in the B minor scale
Understanding the chords in the B minor scale is vital for composition, accompaniment, and improvisation.
| i | ii° | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
| B Minor | C# Dim. | D Major | E Minor | F# Minor | G Major | A Major |
| B Min.7 | C# Min.7b5 | D Maj.7 | E Min.7 | F# Min.7 | G Maj.7 | A7 |
B minor scale bass: All positions
Now you’ll learn how to play the scale using 3 notes-per-string scale shapes. This gives you a shape to use for all 7 degrees of the scale.
For position 4, you can try playing it at the 12th fret of your bass, as well as the open position.
Also, keep in mind that these scale positions work for the key of D major (the relative major of B minor) and all of its modes.
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
Position 5
Position 6
Position 7
B minor scale bass tab PDF
What’s Next?
There are lots of cool songs in the key of B minor. Turn on one of the songs and jam to it on your bass.
One of my favorite bass riffs that uses the B minor scale is Money by Pink Floyd. It’s in 7/4 time, and its pentatonic emphasis sounds awesome.
And it’s always fun to practice bass scales using a groovy backing track like this one. Start by playing B minor scale positions 1, 2, and 3, and get a feel for the sound of the scale.
