B Oriental
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Oriental Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Oriental scale is an aggressive and dissonant exotic scale. On Bass, its notes are B, C, D#, E, F, G#, A. It is frequently used in film and television scores to signal danger, ancient mystery, or high-stakes drama. Commonly used in Film Scores, Metal, Experimental. Notable players include Hans Zimmer, John Williams. Use over sustained bass notes or pedal tones. Best in dramatic, cinematic contexts rather than over standard chord changes.
Notes: B, C, D#, E, F, G#, A
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5d, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 6 b7
Formula: H-WH-H-H-WH-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
An aggressive, dissonant exotic scale with dense chromatic clusters. In film and TV, it signals danger, ancient mystery, or high-stakes drama.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Film Scores, Metal, Experimental
Notable players: Hans Zimmer, John Williams
How to Use the B Oriental Scale
Use over sustained bass notes or pedal tones. Best in dramatic, cinematic contexts rather than over standard chord changes.
Origin & Background
A Western theoretical construct for 'oriental' color. Used extensively in Hollywood scoring for dramatic effect.
Related Scales
The B Oriental scale contains 7 notes (B, C, D#, E, F, G#, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.