A# Flat Three Pentatonic Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
A# Flat Three Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A# Flat Three Pentatonic scale is a relatively rare jazz pentatonic scale. On Bass, it contains the notes A#, C, C#, F, G. It is an effective tool for navigating blues changes, providing a unique way to differentiate between the different chords of a progression with a quirky, minor-key twist. Commonly used in Jazz, Blues, Experimental. Notable players include Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter. Use over m7, m7b5 chords. Effective for differentiating chords within a blues progression.
Notes: A#, C, C#, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5
Formula: W-H-4-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: kumoi
How to Play A# Flat Three Pentatonic on Bass
On bass, locate A# on the A string at fret 1. This 5-note scale can be played across two strings without shifting, making it ideal for groove-based lines.
The A# Flat Three Pentatonic scale contains 2 sharps (A#, C#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A# Flat Three Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A#-C#, C-F) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in A#. Try a A#5 - F5 - G5 progression.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the A# Flat Three Pentatonic scale to build walking bass lines by targeting chord tones on strong beats and using scale tones as approach notes. This is the foundation of functional bass playing.
The A# Flat Three Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (A#, C, C#, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A# Flat Three Pentatonic
The A# Flat Three Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.