E whole-tone scale on bass
The E whole-tone scale has 6 notes: E F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ D (E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, B sharp, and D).
- E 1
- F♯ F sharp 2
- G♯ G sharp 3
- A♯ A sharp ♯4
- B♯ B sharp ♯5
- D ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (E) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 1 (frets 0 to 4), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: open (E), 2 (F♯), 4 (G♯)
- string 3: 1 (A♯), 3 (B♯)
- string 2: open (D), 2 (E), 4 (F♯)
- string 1: 1 (G♯), 3 (A♯)
Position 2 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 2 (F♯), 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯)
- string 3: 3 (B♯), 5 (D)
- string 2: 2 (E), 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯)
- string 1: 3 (A♯), 5 (B♯)
Position 3 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (G♯), 6 (A♯), 8 (B♯)
- string 3: 5 (D), 7 (E)
- string 2: 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯)
- string 1: 5 (B♯), 7 (D)
Position 4 (frets 6 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 6 (A♯), 8 (B♯), 10 (D)
- string 3: 7 (E), 9 (F♯)
- string 2: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 10 (B♯)
- string 1: 7 (D), 9 (E)
Position 5 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 8 (B♯), 10 (D), 12 (E)
- string 3: 9 (F♯), 11 (G♯)
- string 2: 8 (A♯), 10 (B♯), 12 (D)
- string 1: 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
Position 6 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (D), 12 (E), 14 (F♯)
- string 3: 11 (G♯), 13 (A♯)
- string 2: 10 (B♯), 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 1: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯)
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 (E).
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
- E
- W
- F♯
- W
- G♯
- W
- A♯
- W
- B♯
- W
- D
- W
- E
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 E 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 E whole-tone scale?
The notes of the E whole-tone scale are E, F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, B sharp, and D. The root, degree 1, is E.
What is the formula of the E 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 E 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 (E). There are 6 positions on bass, each with the full fingering.