Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 6th fret

A♯ Locrian Mode

A♯BC♯D♯EF♯G♯
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Tab & notation

Up and back down · 14 notes in 8th notes · 2 bars of 4/4
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
A♯
1
6
1
B
♭2
7
2
C♯
♭3
9
4
D♯
4
6
1
E
♭5
7
2
F♯
♭6
9
4
G♯
♭7
6
1
A♯
1
8
3
G♯
♭7
6
1
F♯
♭6
9
4
E
♭5
7
2
D♯
4
6
1
C♯
♭3
9
4
B
♭2
7
2
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
A♯1Root
H
B♭2Minor 2nd
W
C♯♭3Minor 3rd
W
D♯4Perfect 4th
H
E♭5Diminished 5th
W
F♯♭6Minor 6th
W
G♯♭7Minor 7th
W
A♯8Octave

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
5 sharps: A♯ C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯
Parent major
B
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.

How to play the A♯ Locrian mode on bass

The A♯ Locrian mode has 7 notes: A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯ and G♯. Both a ♭2 and a ♭5, so its own tonic chord is diminished. Rarely used as a home key.

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

The root, A♯, is on the 6th fret of the E string and the 1st fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 11th fret of the low B string.

A♯ Locrian Mode tab: root on the E string

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

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

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

A♯ Locrian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 1st fret of the A string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

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

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 6th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 6 to 15 with 1 position shift and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|----------------------------------11-13-15-|
D|-------------------------11-13-14----------|
A|----------------11-13-14-------------------|
E|-6-7-9-11-12-14----------------------------|

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

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

Start on the 11th fret of the B string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 11 to 14 without moving your hand.

G|-------------------------|
D|-------------------------|
A|-------------------11-13-|
E|----------11-12-14-------|
B|-11-12-14----------------|

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1A♯Root0
♭2BMinor 2nd1
♭3C♯Minor 3rd3
4D♯Perfect 4th5
♭5EDiminished 5th6
♭6F♯Minor 6th8
♭7G♯Minor 7th10

When to use it

Half-diminished (m7♭5) chords, the ii chord of a minor key. Find the arpeggio inside it first: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7. The other notes connect them.

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 Locrian mode in every key

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

More patterns from A♯

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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