How To Play Two Octave Major Scales on Bass –> There are a lot of ways to play a major scale across two octaves on bass guitar. The way you decide to play them can vary based on your personal preference. Your choice of how you play any scale or pattern is what helps define your unique playing style and sound. There are definitely some rules to follow, but don’t think you have to learn them in any exact, specific way. The ways I show you I believe are the easiest to play and remember.
As you work on learning to play two octave scales, you’ll start to figure out what works best for you. An important point to remember is to always think ahead about how to move your fingers into position to play the next scale/chord/note — with minimal amount of hand movement.
Below are 2 patterns for how to play two octave major scales. This techniques I show you are for:
- Starting on the A string and playing down to a lower octave on the E string
- Starting on the E string and playing up to a higher octave on the G string
The great thing about about bass guitar is that a pattern, scale, or chord played in one key or position will work in any other key or position all over the bass! The patterns I show you here are for scales in the key of F major and G major – but they will also work for any other key.
Let’s first look at how to play down to a lower octave on the E string if you start on the A string…
Below is a fretboard diagram showing the notes played in F Major. Start on the F note / A string / 8th fret. Play to the higher octave F on the G string /10th fret using the common 4 fret span pattern. Then play down to the lower octave F on the E string / 1st fret.
Here is another fretboard diagram showing the fingering I would typically use for this scale.
Here’s a video me playing the scales diagramed above:
Notice I end with my 1 (index) finger on the low F. This puts me into position to play the lower octave F major scale using the open strings. Here’s a diagram showing how I would do that – note names and finger numbers included:
Here’s a video showing me playing down through the lower F Major scale:
This works for the F major scale. If I were ending on another note (like G on the 3rd fret) I might end with my 2 (middle) finger which puts me into position to easily play the G Major scale across 4 frets. Again, there are a lot of ways to play any two octave scale. Always think ahead about how to put your hand in position to play your next scale, note, or chord!
Now let’s look at how to play up to higher octave on the G string if you start on the E string.
Below is a fretboard diagram showing the notes played in G Major. Start on the G note / E string / 3rd fret. Play to the higher octave G on the G string / 5th fret using the common 4 fret span pattern. Then play up to the higher octave G on the G string / 12th fret.
Here is another fretboard diagram showing the fingering I would typically use for this scale.
Here’s a video of me playing these scales diagramed above:
Notice now I’m in position to play down to a lower octave G on the 10th fret using the 4 fret span pattern. I could also easily shift up to the 15th fret and play a higher octave G scale — now I’ve got 3 octaves easily covered! Here’s a diagram illustrating that technique:
Here’s a video showing me playing through that pattern:
Again – always think ahead about how to put your hand in position to play your next scale, note, or chord!
So hopefully that gives you some help and insight on how to play two octave major scales on bass. I think the techniques I show you are easy to play and remember. Keep in mind there are other ways to play two octave scales. There are rules to follow for playing them the correct way. But as you practice and learn you’ll begin to see different ways to play them that fit your unique style. You’ll also begin to see how these patterns are interconnected with the many other bass guitar patterns, scales, chords, and modes. Have fun and as always, thanks for checking out Bass Player Center!
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How To Play Two Octave Major Scales on Bass