A Bass Guitar Resource Book page 8

The Bb major scale - location, name and notation

The pictures show the location of pitches for the Bb major scale using the fundamental major scale
pattern which begins on the second finger. The number in the lower right corner of each picture
represents the finger to be used. The index finger is numbered 1, the longest numbered 2, the ring
finger numbered 3 and the shortest numbered 4. The finger pattern is 2-4 1-2-4 1-3-4. The pattern
uses three strings and begins on one of the two lower strings. The pattern can be used for any major
scale by starting on the first note of the scale with the 2nd finger. These same sounds are located at
other frets. For example, the Bb can also be played at the first fret on the A string but the pattern
becomes 1-3 0-1-3 0-2-3.
Observe the position of the thumb and the placement of the fingers near the frets.

2 4 1 2
? ? w ? w ? bw
Bb bw C D Eb

4 1 3 4
F ? w G ? w A ? w Bb ? bw