Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Arpeggio · 4-string · Root on E string, open string

E Diminished 7th Arpeggio

EGB♭D♭

Whole neck Left-handed

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 8 notes in 8th notes · 1 bar of 4/4 Bass clef

Note

Deg

Fing

♭3

B♭

♭5

D♭

♭♭7

D♭

♭♭7

B♭

♭5

♭3

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones

E1Root

G♭3Minor 3rd

B♭♭5Diminished 5th

D♭♭♭7Diminished 7th

E8Octave

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

One-bar count-in

Speed builder

Add BPM every loops, up to BPM

Move through keys

every loops

Cycling 4ths is how jazz players drill a shape in all twelve keys.

Memory mode: hide the tab and fingering after the first loop Small speakers: play the bass an octave higher

Bass Click Drone Chords Drums

How to play the E diminished 7th arpeggio on bass

The E diminished 7th arpeggio has 4 notes: E, G, B♭ and D♭. 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.

Interval steps: m3 m3 m3 m3. Formula: 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7.

The root, E, is on the open string of the E string and the 7th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 5th fret of the low B string.

E Diminished 7th Arpeggio tab: root on the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

G|-----------|
D|---------2-|
A|-----1-4---|
E|-0-3-------|

Notes: E G B♭ D♭ E
Fingers: open 3 1 4 2

E Diminished 7th Arpeggio tab: root on the A string

Start on the 7th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 6 to 10 without moving your hand and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|--------6-9-|
D|------8-----|
A|-7-10-------|
E|------------|

Notes: E G B♭ D♭ E
Fingers: 2 4 3 1 4

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 1 to 9 with 1 position shift.

G|-----------0-3-6-9-|
D|---------2---------|
A|-----1-4-----------|
E|-0-3---------------|

Notes: E G B♭ D♭ E G B♭ D♭ E
Fingers: open 3 1 4 2 open 3 1 4

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

Start on the 5th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 4 to 8 without moving your hand and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|-----------|
D|-----------|
A|-------4-7-|
E|-----6-----|
B|-5-8-------|

Notes: E G B♭ D♭ E
Fingers: 2 4 3 1 4

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	E	Root	0
♭3	G	Minor 3rd	3
♭5	B♭	Diminished 5th	6
♭♭7	D♭	Diminished 7th	9

When to use it

Passing diminished chords and as a stand-in for V7♭9. Every note is three frets from the next. Move the shape up three frets and you are on the same chord.

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 diminished 7th arpeggio in every key

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