Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

A♭ Dorian Mode

A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭

Whole neck Left-handed

RootScale noteDefining note (6): what sets this mode apartThe same notes elsewhere on the neckNumbers are scale degrees (1 is the root)

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 14 notes in 8th notes · 2 bars of 4/4 Bass clef

Note

Deg

Fing

A♭

B♭

C♭

♭3

D♭

E♭

G♭

♭7

A♭

G♭

♭7

E♭

D♭

C♭

♭3

B♭

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)

A♭1Root

B♭2Major 2nd

C♭♭3Minor 3rd

D♭4Perfect 4th

E♭5Perfect 5th

F6Major 6th

G♭♭7Minor 7th

A♭8Octave

Minor with a natural 6th, so it sounds brighter than natural minor. The sound of funk vamps and modal jazz.

Also called: Mode 2
Vs. major: ♭3, ♭7
Key signature: 6 flats: A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ G♭
Parent major: G♭
Use it over: Minor 7 chords, especially ii chords and one-chord minor grooves.
Practice tip: Lean on the 6th. It is the one note that separates Dorian from natural minor.
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 A♭ Dorian mode on bass

The A♭ Dorian mode has 7 notes: A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F and G♭. Minor with a natural 6th, so it sounds brighter than natural minor. The sound of funk vamps and modal jazz.

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

The root, A♭, is on the 4th fret of the E string and the 11th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 9th fret of the low B string.

A♭ Dorian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 4th fret of the E string with your fourth finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

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

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

A♭ Dorian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 11th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 9 to 13 without moving your hand and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|---------------10-11-13-|
D|-------9-11-13----------|
A|-11-13------------------|
E|------------------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 4th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 4 to 13 with 2 position shifts.

G|--------------------------8-10-11-13-|
D|-------------------8-9-11------------|
A|------------8-9-11-------------------|
E|-4-6-7-9-11--------------------------|

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

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

Start on the 9th fret of the B string with your fourth finger. The shape covers frets 6 to 9 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	A♭	Root	0
2	B♭	Major 2nd	2
♭3	C♭	Minor 3rd	3
4	D♭	Perfect 4th	5
5	E♭	Perfect 5th	7
6	F	Major 6th	9
♭7	G♭	Minor 7th	10

When to use it

Minor 7 chords, especially ii chords and one-chord minor grooves. Lean on the 6th. It is the one note that separates Dorian from natural minor.

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 Dorian mode in every key

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