Whole-Step Down Bass Scales
Whole-Step Down tuning on bass is D, G, C, F, from the 4th string to the first. Every string is tuned down a whole step from standard, so every shape you already know still works — it just sounds lower.
Bass · 4-string (Whole-Step Down), tuned low to high: D, G, C, F. 24 frets.
- D string: fret 0 D (4), fret 2 E (5), fret 5 G (flat 7), fret 7 A (root), fret 10 C (flat 3), fret 12 D (4), fret 14 E (5), fret 17 G (flat 7), fret 19 A (root), fret 22 C (flat 3), fret 24 D (4).
- G string: fret 0 G (flat 7), fret 2 A (root), fret 5 C (flat 3), fret 7 D (4), fret 9 E (5), fret 12 G (flat 7), fret 14 A (root), fret 17 C (flat 3), fret 19 D (4), fret 21 E (5), fret 24 G (flat 7).
- C string: fret 0 C (flat 3), fret 2 D (4), fret 4 E (5), fret 7 G (flat 7), fret 9 A (root), fret 12 C (flat 3), fret 14 D (4), fret 16 E (5), fret 19 G (flat 7), fret 21 A (root), fret 24 C (flat 3).
- F string: fret 2 G (flat 7), fret 4 A (root), fret 7 C (flat 3), fret 9 D (4), fret 11 E (5), fret 14 G (flat 7), fret 16 A (root), fret 19 C (flat 3), fret 21 D (4), fret 23 E (5).
Above: the A minor pentatonic drawn on a bass in Whole-Step Down tuning. Every note is placed and named for this tuning, not transposed from a standard-tuning diagram — so the note names are the ones you actually play.
Why players use it
A whole step down is the same idea taken further — noticeably slacker strings, a darker sound, and everything transposed down two frets. Common in stoner rock, doom, and a lot of nineties alternative.
Open strings
D, G, C, F — fourth string to first.
Scales in Whole-Step Down
Each link opens the interactive fretboard with that scale and this tuning already applied. You can change key, hear any note, and export a printable PDF from there.
| Scale | Key |
|---|---|
| Minor Pentatonic | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Major Pentatonic | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Minor Blues | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Natural Minor | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Major | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Dorian | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Phrygian | A · E · D · G · C · B |
| Mixolydian | A · E · D · G · C · B |