Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 5th fret

A Lydian Mode

ABC♯D♯EF♯G♯

Whole neck Left-handed

RootScale noteDefining note (♯4): 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

C♯

D♯

♯4

F♯

G♯

F♯

D♯

♯4

C♯

How it's built

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

A1Root

B2Major 2nd

C♯3Major 3rd

D♯♯4Augmented 4th

E5Perfect 5th

F♯6Major 6th

G♯7Major 7th

A8Octave

Major with a ♯4. Bright and floating; common in film scores.

Also called: Mode 4
Vs. major: ♯4
Key signature: 4 sharps: C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯
Parent major: E
Use it over: Major 7 chords, especially the IV chord of a major key.
Practice tip: With the drone on, land on the ♯4 and hold it. Hear how it hangs instead of resolving.
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 Lydian mode on bass

The A Lydian mode has 7 notes: A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯ and G♯. Major with a ♯4. Bright and floating; common in film scores.

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

The root, A, is on the 5th fret of the E string and the open string of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 10th fret of the low B string.

A Lydian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 5th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 4 to 7 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-----------4-6-7-|
A|-----4-6-7-------|
E|-5-7-------------|

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

A Lydian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the open string of the A string. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

G|-------------1-2-|
D|-------1-2-4-----|
A|-0-2-4-----------|
E|-----------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 5th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 5 to 14 with 1 position shift and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|----------------------------------11-13-14-|
D|-------------------------11-13-14----------|
A|----------------11-12-14-------------------|
E|-5-7-9-11-12-14----------------------------|

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

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

Start on the 10th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 9 to 12 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------------|
D|-----------------------|
A|---------------9-11-12-|
E|-------9-11-12---------|
B|-10-12-----------------|

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

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	A	Root	0
2	B	Major 2nd	2
3	C♯	Major 3rd	4
♯4	D♯	Augmented 4th	6
5	E	Perfect 5th	7
6	F♯	Major 6th	9
7	G♯	Major 7th	11

When to use it

Major 7 chords, especially the IV chord of a major key. With the drone on, land on the ♯4 and hold it. Hear how it hangs instead of resolving.

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 Lydian mode in every key

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