C whole-tone scale on bass
The C whole-tone scale has 6 notes: C D E F♯ G♯ B♭ (C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, and B flat).
- C 1
- D 2
- E 3
- F♯ F sharp ♯4
- G♯ G sharp ♯5
- B♭ B flat ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (C) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 4 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 2 (F♯), 4 (G♯), 6 (B♭)
- string 3: 3 (C), 5 (D)
- string 2: 2 (E), 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯)
- string 1: 3 (B♭), 5 (C)
Position 5 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (G♯), 6 (B♭), 8 (C)
- string 3: 5 (D), 7 (E)
- string 2: 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯), 8 (B♭)
- string 1: 5 (C), 7 (D)
Position 6 (frets 6 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 6 (B♭), 8 (C), 10 (D)
- string 3: 7 (E), 9 (F♯)
- string 2: 6 (G♯), 8 (B♭), 10 (C)
- string 1: 7 (D), 9 (E)
Position 1 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 8 (C), 10 (D), 12 (E)
- string 3: 9 (F♯), 11 (G♯)
- string 2: 8 (B♭), 10 (C), 12 (D)
- string 1: 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
Position 2 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (D), 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
- string 3: 11 (G♯), 13 (B♭)
- string 2: 10 (C), 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 1: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯)
Position 3 (frets 11 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
- string 3: 11 (G♯), 13 (B♭), 15 (C)
- string 2: 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 1: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯), 15 (B♭)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (C).
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- C
- W
- D
- W
- E
- W
- F♯
- W
- G♯
- W
- B♭
- W
- C
Degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. Steps: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the whole-tone scale
Six notes a whole step apart. Mysterious and dreamlike; fits augmented chords.
Scales with the same notes
More C scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Whole-tone in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C whole-tone scale?
The notes of the C whole-tone scale are C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, and B flat. The root, degree 1, is C.
What is the formula of the C whole-tone scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · 3 · ♯4 · ♯5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: W – W – W – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the C whole-tone scale on bass?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (C). There are 6 positions on bass, each with the full fingering.