Learn 7 C minor scale bass shapes and positions with this straightforward guide.
The C minor scale is a common minor scale due to its root note being C.
And learning the C minor scale seems to be a logical next step after learning the C major scale, its parallel brother in music theory.
And if you don’t know or don’t remember the basics of minor scale construction, it’s simple: flatten the 3rd, 6th, and 7th intervals of the major scale formula.
This gives you the minor scale formula: 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
You can see this in practice using the fretboard diagram below.
Table of Contents
C Minor Scale Bass Fretboard Diagram Showing Intervals
C Natural Minor Scale One Octave Bass Fingering
Notes in the C minor scale
C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb are the notes in the C minor scale, for bass guitar and any other instrument.
Chords in the C minor scale
Understanding the chords in the C minor scale is vital for composition, accompaniment, and improvisation.
| i | ii° | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
| C Minor | D Dim. | Eb Major | F Minor | G Minor | Ab Major | Bb Major |
| C Min.7 | D Min.7b5 | Eb Maj.7 | F Min.7 | G Min.7 | Ab Maj.7 | Bb7 |
C Minor Scale Bass: All Positions
Now you’ll look at and play the C minor scale using 3 notes-per-string.
This is my favorite way to memorize this scale, and any minor scale for that matter, because it gives you a shape for each degree of the scale.
And, by memorizing these shapes, you’ll be able to play all modes of C natural minor and its relative major scale: Eb major.
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
Position 5
Position 6
Position 7
C Minor Scale Bass Tab PDF
What’s Next?
Now you’ve learned the C minor scale!
A fun and useful next step is to learn the C minor arpeggio. Learning arpeggio shapes will help you improvise, construct walking bass lines, and accompany like a pro.
It’d also be worth your time to learn modes if you want to advance your knowledge of how bass scales sound and work.
Thanks for reading. And have a fantastic day of playing bass!
