Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 8th fret

C Aeolian Mode

CDE♭FGA♭B♭
EADG012345678910111213141516171819202122232445♭6♭745♭6♭712♭3♭712♭3♭712♭345♭62♭345♭62♭345♭6♭7125♭6♭712♭345♭6♭712♭34512♭345♭6♭71

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 14 notes in 8th notes · 2 bars of 4/4
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
C
1
8
1
D
2
10
3
E♭
♭3
11
4
F
4
8
1
G
5
10
3
A♭
♭6
11
4
B♭
♭7
8
1
C
1
10
3
B♭
♭7
8
1
A♭
♭6
11
4
G
5
10
3
F
4
8
1
E♭
♭3
11
4
D
2
10
3
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
C1Root
W
D2Major 2nd
H
E♭♭3Minor 3rd
W
F4Perfect 4th
W
G5Perfect 5th
H
A♭♭6Minor 6th
W
B♭♭7Minor 7th
W
C8Octave

Mode 6, the natural minor scale. Its ♭6 is what makes it darker than Dorian.

Also called
Mode 6 · natural minor
Vs. major
♭3, ♭6, ♭7
Key signature
3 flats: E♭ A♭ B♭
Parent major
E♭
Use it over
Minor chords, especially the vi chord of a major key.
Practice tip
Switch between Dorian and Aeolian on the same root. Only the 6th changes.
Your best
Complete a loop to log a tempo for this pattern.

Practice routine

Add BPM every loops, up to BPM
every loops
Cycling 4ths is how jazz players drill a shape in all twelve keys.

How to play the C Aeolian mode on bass

The C Aeolian mode has 7 notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. Mode 6, the natural minor scale. Its ♭6 is what makes it darker than Dorian.

Step pattern: W H W W H W W (W = whole step, two frets; H = half step, one fret). Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Key signature: 3 flats: E♭ A♭ B♭. Parent major: E♭ major scale.

The root, C, is on the 8th fret of the E string and the 3rd fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 1st fret of the low B string.

C Aeolian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 8th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 11 without moving your hand.

G|----------------------|
D|-----------------8-10-|
A|---------8-10-11------|
E|-8-10-11--------------|

Notes: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
Fingers: 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 3

C Aeolian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 3rd fret of the A string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 6 without moving your hand.

G|-------------3-5-|
D|-------3-5-6-----|
A|-3-5-6-----------|
E|-----------------|

Notes: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
Fingers: 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 3

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 8th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 17 with 2 position shifts.

G|-------------------------------12-13-15-17-|
D|-----------------8-10-12-13-15-------------|
A|---------8-10-11---------------------------|
E|-8-10-11-----------------------------------|

Notes: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
Fingers: 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 4

On a 5-string bass: root on the B string

Start on the 1st fret of the B string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-------------1-3-|
E|-------1-3-4-----|
B|-1-3-4-----------|

Notes: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
Fingers: 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 3

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1CRoot0
2DMajor 2nd2
♭3E♭Minor 3rd3
4FPerfect 4th5
5GPerfect 5th7
♭6A♭Minor 6th8
♭7B♭Minor 7th10

When to use it

Minor chords, especially the vi chord of a major key. Switch between Dorian and Aeolian on the same root. Only the 6th changes.

How to practise it

Start with the metronome at 60 BPM in 8th notes, ascending and descending, until you can play it without looking. Raise the tempo 5 BPM at a time with the speed builder, then switch on memory mode so the tab hides after the first loop. Earn bronze for playing it through, silver at 4 notes a second, and gold at that speed from memory.

The Aeolian mode in every key

Printable chart of all 12 keys: PDF · print page · every pattern in one PDF

More patterns from C

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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