G Minor Hexatonic Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
G Minor Hexatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The G Minor Hexatonic scale is a six-note scale that bridges the gap between the minor pentatonic and full modal scales. On Bass, it contains the notes G, A, Bb, C, D, F#. It has a soulful, minor character but offers more melodic flexibility, making it a common choice for blues and jazz-rock soloing. Commonly used in Blues, Jazz-Rock, R&B, Soul. Notable players include B.B. King, Albert King, John Mayer. Use over m7 chords and blues changes. More flexible than minor pentatonic but less complex than full Dorian.
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, F#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6
Formula: W-H-W-W-4-H
Number of notes: 6
How to Play G Minor Hexatonic on Bass
On bass, locate G on the E string at fret 3. 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 G Minor Hexatonic scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the G Minor Hexatonic 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.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on G to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Hexatonic scale come through clearly.
Bass Tips
Practice the G Minor Hexatonic 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 G Minor Hexatonic scale contains 6 notes (G, A, Bb, C, D, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for G Minor Hexatonic
The G Minor Hexatonic 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 6-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.