The Yo scale on bass:
notes, formula and position

The Yo scale has 5 notes: 1 2 4 5 6. In A, that gives A, B, D, E and F♯. A bright Japanese pentatonic with no third: neither major nor minor, very open.

Also called: Japanese major pentatonic.

Formula and notes

1 2 4 5 6

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

Where the Yo scale comes from

It is the 4th mode of the major pentatonic: you play the notes of the major pentatonic starting from its 4th degree. The Yo scale in A therefore has the same notes as the D 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 Yo 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|-4--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 Yo scale

Bright Japanese pentatonic, no 3rd nor 7th. Neutral (neither major nor minor). Very open.

You mostly hear it in Japanese music and world music.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the Yo scale fits Asus2 and Asus4. 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 Yo scale by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The major pentatonic scale: 3 instead of 4.
• The minor 6 pentatonic scale: ♭3 instead of 2.
• The Kumoi scale: ♭3 instead of 4.
• The Egyptian pentatonic scale: ♭7 instead of 6.

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