E Harmonic Minor Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
E Harmonic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Harmonic Minor scale is a variation of the minor scale that introduces a strong leading tone. On Bass, the notes are E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#. It has a distinctive exotic or Middle Eastern flavor due to the wide gap between its upper notes, and is used to provide the harmonic tension necessary for classical minor-key resolutions. It is a staple in neo-classical metal and flamenco. The diatonic chords of E Harmonic Minor are EmMaj7, F#m7b5, G+maj7, Am7, B7, Cmaj7, D#o7. Commonly used in Metal, Classical, Flamenco, Film Scores, Neoclassical. Notable players include Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Johann Sebastian Bach. Use over m(Maj7), m7, dim7 chords. Essential for creating V7 → i resolutions in minor keys. The raised 7th provides the leading tone that natural minor lacks.
Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
EmMaj7 — F♯m7♭5 — G+maj7 — Am7 — B7 — Cmaj7 — D♯o7
How to Play E Harmonic Minor on Bass
On bass, locate E on the E string at fret 0. 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 E Harmonic Minor scale contains 2 sharps (F#, D#). Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the E Harmonic Minor 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.
Try these progressions with the E Harmonic Minor scale: EmMaj7 - Am7 - B7 - EmMaj7 (I-IV-V-I) or EmMaj7 - F#m7b5 - Am7 - B7 for a more stepwise movement.
Bass Tips
Practice the E Harmonic Minor 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.
The E Harmonic Minor scale contains 7 notes (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Harmonic Minor
The E Harmonic Minor 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.