Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Half-Diminished Arpeggio

GB♭D♭F
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324♭7♭5♭71♭3♭5♭3♭71♭3♭5♭71♭3♭5♭71♭3♭51♭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
1
B♭
♭3
6
4
D♭
♭5
4
2
F
♭7
3
1
G
1
5
3
F
♭7
3
1
D♭
♭5
4
2
B♭
♭3
6
4

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones
G1Root
m3
B♭♭3Minor 3rd
m3
D♭♭5Diminished 5th
M3
F♭7Minor 7th
M2
G8Octave

A diminished triad plus a ♭7. The ii chord of a minor key.

Also called
m7♭5 · 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Use it over
m7♭5 chords in minor ii–V–i progressions.
Practice tip
Compare it with the minor 7th: only the 5th drops one fret.
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 half-diminished arpeggio on bass, in all 12 keys

A diminished triad plus a ♭7. The ii chord of a minor key. Also called: m7♭5 · 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7.

Formula: 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7. Interval steps: m3 m3 M3 M2. Use it over: m7♭5 chords in minor ii–V–i progressions.

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

Compare it with the minor 7th: only the 5th drops one fret.

Every pattern

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

Your progress