Major Scale Lesson Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com


I'm tired of making music tabs so I thought I'd perhaps share with
you guys some music theory. For this "lesson", I'll be explaining
the pattern for a music scale. As you already know, a scale is a
selection of notes within an octave. There are different kinds of
scales (major, minor, etc.), but I'll be discussing the major
scales right now. A major scale is constructed with the following
pattern:

W — W — H — W — W — W — H

W: whole step
H: half step

You can pretty much build any MAJOR scale using that pattern.
Some examples...

C Major scale.

     C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C
G:——————————————————2——4——5———
D:—————————2——3——5————————————
A:———3——5—————————————————————
E:————————————————————————————

As you can see...

C: root
D: whole step from C
E: whole step from D
F: half step from E
G: whole step from F
A: whole step from G
B: whole step from A
C: half step from C


Next, we will try an Eb Major scale.

     Eb F  G  Ab Bb C  D  Eb
G:——————————————————5——7——8———
D:—————————5——6——8————————————
A:———6——8—————————————————————
E:————————————————————————————

Again...

Eb: root
 F: whole step
 G: whole step
Ab: half step
Bb: whole step
 C: whole step
 D: whole step
Eb: half step


Lastly, a D Major scale.

     D  E  F# G  A  B  C# D
G:——————————————————4——6——7———
D:—————————4——5——7————————————
A:———5——7—————————————————————
E:————————————————————————————

Yeah, you got it.

 D: root
 E: whole step
F#: whole step
 G: half step
 A: whole step
 B: whole step
C#: whole step
 D: half step


And that's it...

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Bass Lessons — Major Scale Lesson bass tabs