B Ousak Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagramBeginner
B Ousak Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Ousak scale is the most fundamental dromos in Greek Rebetiko music, corresponding to the Phrygian mode and providing the essential darkened quality that defines the sound of bouzouki. On Bass, it contains the notes B, C, D, E, F#, G, A. Its simplicity makes it the first mode learned by aspiring Greek folk musicians, yet its expressive depth has sustained countless masterpieces of the tavern music tradition. Commonly used in Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Turkish, Laiko. Notable players include Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis. Use over minor chords, particularly emphasizing the 1st, 4th, and b7th degrees. The standard harmonic framework for Greek folk songs in the Ousak dromos uses i, iv, and bVII chords.
Notes: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
The Greek folk version of Phrygian. The simplest and most common dromos in Rebetiko, its b2 provides the essential darkened quality that defines the sound of bouzouki music.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Turkish, Laiko
Notable players: Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis
How to Use the B Ousak Scale
Use over minor chords, particularly emphasizing the 1st, 4th, and b7th degrees. The standard harmonic framework for Greek folk songs in the Ousak dromos uses i, iv, and bVII chords.
Origin & Background
The most fundamental dromos in Greek Rebetiko and Laiko music, corresponding to the Phrygian mode. The name derives from the Turkish makam Ussak. It forms the melodic backbone of countless bouzouki songs from the golden age of Rebetiko.
How to Play B Ousak on Bass
On bass, locate B on the A string at fret 2. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The B Ousak scale contains 1 sharp (F#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Set a metronome to 60 BPM and play the B Ousak scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Exotic scales like the Ousak often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on B. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes. This scale is especially effective in turkish contexts.
Bass Tips
Practice the B Ousak scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations. Aim for a melancholic quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Ousak is the 3rd mode of the Major scale. View B Major scale
The B Ousak scale contains 7 notes (B, C, D, E, F#, G, A). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Ousak
The B Ousak 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 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.