Scales Etc. Bass Tabs - Misc Scales @ BigBassTabs.com

I have been trying to figure out how to improvise for a few months now, and have been
looking for scales to help me out, but have never found anything greatly helpful. So
I found a few helpful things in a book and have written out a reference point to help
myself and whoever wants is, out.

This isn't a tab but is just a point of reference. I have made it for a regular 4
string, 18 fret bass.

Key:
    #   =  Sharp note
    b   =  Flat Note
    ~   =  Natural Note
        =  Not in scale
    |   =  Fret
    ||  =  Nut
    0   =  Open string
    12  =  Fret Number (eg. fret twelve)
     =  Use these for main scale

I hope this helps, ENJOY :D


This is the Bass Fretboard with sharp notes:


0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18

G ||G# |A~ |A# |B~ |C~ |C# |D~ |D# |E~ |F~ |F# |G~ |G# |A~ |A# |B~ |C~ |C# |

D ||D# |E~ |F~ |F# |G~ |G# |A~ |A# |B~ |C~ |C# |D~ |D# |E~ |F~ |F# |G~ |G# |

A ||A# |B~ |C~ |C# |D~ |D# |E~ |F~ |F# |G~ |G# |A~ |A# |B~ |C~ |C# |D~ |D# |

E ||F~ |F# |G~ |G# |A~ |A# |B~ |C~ |C# |D~ |D# |E~ |F~ |F# |G~ |G# |A~ |A# |


This is the Bass Fretboard with flat notes:


0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18

G ||Ab |A~ |Bb |B~ |C~ |Db |D~ |Eb |E~ |F~ |Gb |G~ |Ab |A~ |Bb |B~ |C~ |Db |

D ||Eb |E~ |F~ |Gb |G~ |Ab |A~ |Bb |B~ |C~ |Db |D~ |Eb |E~ |F~ |Gb |G~ |Ab |

A ||Bb |B~ |C~ |Db |D~ |Eb |E~ |F~ |Gb |G~ |Ab |A~ |Bb |B~ |C~ |Db |D~ |Eb |

E ||F~ |Gb |G~ |Ab |A~ |Bb |B~ |C~ |Db |D~ |Eb |E~ |F~ |Gb |G~ |Ab |A~ |Bb |


This is the Major Pentatonic Scale:

0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18

  ||   |A~ |   |B~ |   |C# |   |   |E~ |   |F# |   |   |A~ |   |B~ |   |   |

  ||   |E~ |      |      |B~ |   |C# |   |   |E~ |   |F# |   |   |

A ||   |B~ |      |      |F# |   |   |A~ |   |B~ |   |C# |   |   |

E ||   |F# |   |         |C# |   |   |E~ |   |F# |   |   |A~ |   |


This is the Minor Pentatonic Scale:

0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18

G ||   |A~ |   |   |C~ |   |D~ |   |E~ |   |   |G~ |   |A~ |   |   |C~ |   |

D ||   |E~ |   |         |   |C~ |   |D~ |   |E~ |   |   |G~ |   |

A ||   |   |C~ |         |   |G~ |   |A~ |   |   |C~ |   |D~ |   |

E ||   |   |G~ |      |      |D~ |   |E~ |   |   |G~ |   |A~ |   |


This is the Blues scale
It is very similar to the Minor Pentatonic scale but uses D#:

0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18

G ||   |A~ |   |   |C~ |   |D~ |D# |E~ |   |   |G~ |   |A~ |   |   |C~ |   |

D ||D# |E~ |   |         |   |C~ |   |D~ |D# |E~ |   |   |G~ |   |

A ||   |   |C~ |      |   |G~ |   |A~ |   |   |C~ |   |D~ |D# |

E ||   |   |G~ |      |      |D~ |D# |E~ |   |   |G~ |   |A~ |   |


Key:
    R   =  Root note
    O   =  Play note

The root of a Chord is the letter in the name, ie. the root of C Major is C, and the
root of F# Minor is F#.

So here are some Triads with changing roots depending on what chord you are matching.


Major Triad:                   Minor Triad:                    Diminished Triad:

|   |   |   | O |              |   |   | O |   |              |   |   | O |   |

| O |   |   | O |              |   |   | O |   |              |   | O |   |   |

|   | R |   |   |              | R |   |   | O |              | R |   |   | O |



Now here are some 7th chord, scales:

Major 7:             Minor 7:             Dominant 7:          Half—Diminished:

|   |   | O | O |____| O |   | O |   |____|   | O |   | O |____| O |   | O |   |

| O |   |   | O |    |   |   | O |   |    | O |   |   | O |    |   | O |   |   |

|   | R |   |   |    | R |   |   | O |    |   | R |   |   |    | R |   |   | O |


These are some other scale modes and what type of scale they are (Major or Minor):


Ionian (Major):                Dorian (Minor):                Phrygian (Minor):

| O |   | O | O |             | O | O |   | O |   |             | O |   | O |   |

| O | O |   | O |             |   | O |   | O |   |             | O |   | O | O |

|   | R |   | O |             |   | R |   | O | O |             | R | O |   | O |


Lydian (Major):      Mixolydian           Aeolian (Minor):     Locrian
                     (Dominant):                               (Half—Diminished):

| O |   | O | O |____| O | O |   | O |____| O |   | O |   |____| O |   | O |   |

| O |   | O | O |    | O | O |   | O |    | O |   | O | O |    | O | O |   | O |

|   | R |   | O |    |   | R |   | O |    | R |   | O | O |    | R | O |   | O |



I hope this is helpful to you, Feed back would be appreciated.



 bigbasstabs.

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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Misc Scales — Scales etc. bass tabs