Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Arpeggio · 4-string · Root on E string, 3rd fret

G Diminished 7th Arpeggio

GB♭D♭F♭
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324♭♭7♭3♭5♭♭71♭3♭5♭♭7♭♭71♭3♭5♭♭711♭3♭5♭♭71♭3♭5♭3♭5♭♭71♭3♭5♭♭711♭3♭5♭♭71

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 8 notes in 8th notes · 1 bar of 4/4
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
G
1
3
3
B♭
♭3
1
1
D♭
♭5
4
4
F♭
♭♭7
2
2
G
1
0
o
F♭
♭♭7
2
2
D♭
♭5
4
4
B♭
♭3
1
1

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones
G1Root
m3
B♭♭3Minor 3rd
m3
D♭♭5Diminished 5th
m3
F♭♭♭7Diminished 7th
m3
G8Octave

Minor 3rds stacked all the way up. The ♭♭7 sounds like a 6th but is spelled as a 7th because it is the chord's seventh.

Also called
1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
Use it over
Passing diminished chords and as a stand-in for V7♭9.
Practice tip
Every note is three frets from the next. Move the shape up three frets and you are on the same chord.
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.

The diminished 7th arpeggio on bass, in all 12 keys

Minor 3rds stacked all the way up. The ♭♭7 sounds like a 6th but is spelled as a 7th because it is the chord's seventh. Also called: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7.

Formula: 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7. Interval steps: m3 m3 m3 m3. Use it over: Passing diminished chords and as a stand-in for V7♭9.

Notes in every key

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

Where the root sits on the neck

KeyE stringA stringB string (5-string)
C831
G3108
D1053
A5010
E075
B720
F♯297
C♯942
G♯4119
D♯1164
A♯6111
F186

Practice tip

Every note is three frets from the next. Move the shape up three frets and you are on the same chord.

Every pattern

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