Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 7th fret

B Locrian Mode

BCDEFGA

Whole neck Left-handed

Tab & notation

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

Note

Deg

Fing

♭2

♭3

♭5

♭6

♭7

♭6

♭5

♭3

♭2

How it's built

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

B1Root

C♭2Minor 2nd

D♭3Minor 3rd

E4Perfect 4th

F♭5Diminished 5th

G♭6Minor 6th

A♭7Minor 7th

B8Octave

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: No sharps or flats
Parent major: C
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

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 B Locrian mode on bass

The B Locrian mode has 7 notes: B, C, D, E, F, G and A. 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: No sharps or flats. Parent major: C major scale.

The root, B, is on the 7th fret of the E string and the 2nd fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the open string of the low B string.

B Locrian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 7th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 10 without moving your hand.

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

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

B Locrian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 2nd fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 4 without moving your hand.

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

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 7th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 16 with 1 position shift and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|-----------------------------------12-14-16-|
D|--------------------------12-14-15----------|
A|-----------------12-14-15-------------------|
E|-7-8-10-12-13-15----------------------------|

Notes: B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
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 open string of the B string. The shape covers frets 1 to 3 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	B	Root	0
♭2	C	Minor 2nd	1
♭3	D	Minor 3rd	3
4	E	Perfect 4th	5
♭5	F	Diminished 5th	6
♭6	G	Minor 6th	8
♭7	A	Minor 7th	10

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