The Egyptian pentatonic scale on bass:
notes, formula and position

The Egyptian pentatonic scale has 5 notes: 1 2 4 5 ♭7. In A, that gives A, B, D, E and G. A pentatonic with no third, which fits sus4 and 7sus4 chords very well.

Also called: suspended pentatonic.

Formula and notes

1 2 4 5 ♭7

The steps between the notes, from the root to the octave: whole step – step and a half – whole step – step and a half – whole step. In A:

Where the Egyptian pentatonic scale comes from

It is the 2nd mode of the major pentatonic: you play the notes of the major pentatonic starting from its 2nd degree. The Egyptian pentatonic scale in A therefore has the same notes as the G major pentatonic. What changes is the home note: the root A, the note your line keeps coming back to.

One position on the neck

The Egyptian pentatonic scale in A, in the 5th-fret position: one finger per fret, from the 4th to the 8th fret, on all four strings. The numbers are the degrees; the root is in gold.

The same position as bass tab (fret by fret, from the low E string to the G string):

G|-4--7-|
D|-5--7-|
A|-5--7-|
E|-5--7-|

For another key, move the whole shape: the root on the E string sets the key (3rd fret for G, 8th fret for C).

The sound of the Egyptian pentatonic scale

Pentatonic without 3rd. Neutral and open. Neither major nor minor — floats between the two.

You mostly hear it in world music, ambient and rock.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the Egyptian pentatonic scale fits Asus2 and A7sus4. On bass, keep the root on the strong beats and use the other notes to connect the chords.

Neighbouring scales

These scales differ from the Egyptian pentatonic scale by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The dominant pentatonic scale: 3 instead of 4.
• The In Sen scale: ♭2 instead of 2.
• The Yo scale: 6 instead of ♭7.
• The minor pentatonic scale: ♭3 instead of 2.

Practice it with UnitBasse

This diagram shows a single position, in a single key. In UnitBasse, this scale is shown across the whole neck and in all twelve keys, as note names, intervals or degrees, with one color per degree. You can listen to it, see the chords that go with it, switch keys in one click, and play it over a chord chart with BackTrack, the app’s backing band. The app has 69 scales in 12 families.

Frequently asked questions