Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Major Pentatonic

GABDE
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Tab & notation

Up and back down · 10 notes in 8th notes · 2 bars of 4/4
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
G
1
3
2
A
2
5
4
B
3
2
1
D
5
5
4
E
6
2
1
G
1
5
4
E
6
2
1
D
5
5
4
B
3
2
1
A
2
5
4
·
·
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
G1Root
W
A2Major 2nd
W
B3Major 3rd
W+H
D5Perfect 5th
W
E6Major 6th
W+H
G8Octave

The major scale with the 4th and 7th taken out. No half steps means nothing clashes. A staple of country, soul and Motown lines.

Also called
Major scale without 4 and 7
Key signature
1 sharp: F♯
Relative minor
E
Use it over
Major triads and dominant 7 chords.
Practice tip
Play it with the root drone on and notice every note sounds settled. Then add the 4th back and hear the tension it brings.
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 major pentatonic on bass, in all 12 keys

The major scale with the 4th and 7th taken out. No half steps means nothing clashes. A staple of country, soul and Motown lines. Also called: Major scale without 4 and 7.

Formula: 1 2 3 5 6. Step pattern: W W W+H W W+H. Use it over: Major triads and dominant 7 chords.

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
D♭942
A♭4119
E♭1164
B♭6111
F186

Practice tip

Play it with the root drone on and notice every note sounds settled. Then add the 4th back and hear the tension it brings.

Every pattern

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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