Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Locrian Mode

GA♭B♭CD♭E♭F
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324♭74♭5♭6♭71♭2♭34♭5♭6♭3♭71♭2♭34♭5♭6♭71♭2♭6♭2♭34♭5♭6♭71♭2♭34♭51♭2♭34♭5♭6♭71♭2♭34♭5♭6♭711♭2♭34♭5♭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
G
1
3
1
A♭
♭2
4
2
B♭
♭3
6
4
C
4
3
1
D♭
♭5
4
2
E♭
♭6
6
4
F
♭7
3
1
G
1
5
3
F
♭7
3
1
E♭
♭6
6
4
D♭
♭5
4
2
C
4
3
1
B♭
♭3
6
4
A♭
♭2
4
2
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
G1Root
H
A♭♭2Minor 2nd
W
B♭♭3Minor 3rd
W
C4Perfect 4th
H
D♭♭5Diminished 5th
W
E♭♭6Minor 6th
W
F♭7Minor 7th
W
G8Octave

Both a ♭2 and a ♭5, so its own tonic chord is diminished. Rarely used as a home key.

Also called
Mode 7
Vs. major
♭2, ♭3, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
Key signature
4 flats: A♭ B♭ D♭ E♭
Parent major
A♭
Use it over
Half-diminished (m7♭5) chords, the ii chord of a minor key.
Practice tip
Find the arpeggio inside it first: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7. The other notes connect them.
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 Locrian mode on bass, in all 12 keys

Both a ♭2 and a ♭5, so its own tonic chord is diminished. Rarely used as a home key. Also called: Mode 7.

Formula: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. Step pattern: H W W H W W W. Use it over: Half-diminished (m7♭5) chords, the ii chord of a minor key.

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

Find the arpeggio inside it first: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7. The other notes connect them.

Every pattern

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

Your progress