The whole tone scale on bass:
notes, formula and position

The whole tone scale has 6 notes: 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7. In A, that gives A, B, C♯, D♯, E♯ and G. Six notes, all a whole step apart: no note dominates and the sound floats. It is associated with Debussy and with dream scenes in film music.

Also called: Whole tone, hexatonic scale.

Formula and notes

1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7

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

One position on the neck

The whole tone 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--6--8-|
D|-5--7-|
A|-4--6--8-|
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 whole tone scale

Only whole tones. 6 notes. Perfect symmetry. Only 2 transpositions possible. No resolution.

You mostly hear it in impressionism, jazz and film music.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the whole tone scale fits Aaug, A7♯5 and A7♯11. 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 whole tone scale by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The Prometheus scale: 6 instead of ♯5.

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