Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Scale · 4-string · Root on E string, 4th fret

A♭ Major Scale

A♭B♭CD♭E♭FG
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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
4
2
B♭
2
6
4
C
3
3
1
D♭
4
4
2
E♭
5
6
4
F
6
3
1
G
7
5
3
A♭
1
6
4
G
7
5
3
F
6
3
1
E♭
5
6
4
D♭
4
4
2
C
3
3
1
B♭
2
6
4
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
A♭1Root
W
B♭2Major 2nd
W
C3Major 3rd
H
D♭4Perfect 4th
W
E♭5Perfect 5th
W
F6Major 6th
W
G7Major 7th
H
A♭8Octave

The reference scale. Every other scale and chord here is named by how it differs from this one.

Also called
Ionian mode
Key signature
4 flats: A♭ B♭ D♭ E♭
Relative minor
F
Use it over
Major and major 7 chords. Lines that resolve to a major key centre.
Practice tip
Say the degree numbers out loud as you play. Knowing where the 3 and 5 sit is what lets you build lines straight from a chord chart.
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♭ major scale on bass

The A♭ major scale has 7 notes: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F and G. The reference scale. Every other scale and chord here is named by how it differs from this one.

Step pattern: W W H W W W H (W = whole step, two frets; H = half step, one fret). Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Key signature: 4 flats: A♭ B♭ D♭ E♭. Relative minor: F natural minor scale.

The root, A♭, is on the 4th fret of the E string and the 11th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 9th fret of the low B string.

A♭ Major Scale tab: root on the E string

Start on the 4th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 6 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-----------3-5-6-|
A|-----3-4-6-------|
E|-4-6-------------|

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

A♭ Major Scale tab: root on the A string

Start on the 11th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 10 to 13 without moving your hand.

G|----------------10-12-13-|
D|-------10-11-13----------|
A|-11-13-------------------|
E|-------------------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 4th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 4 to 13 with 1 position shift and 2 one-fret stretches.

G|-------------------------------10-12-13-|
D|----------------------10-11-13----------|
A|-------4-6-8-10-11-13-------------------|
E|-4-6-8----------------------------------|

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

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

Start on the 9th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 11 without moving your hand.

G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|-------------8-10-11-|
E|------8-9-11---------|
B|-9-11----------------|

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1A♭Root0
2B♭Major 2nd2
3CMajor 3rd4
4D♭Perfect 4th5
5E♭Perfect 5th7
6FMajor 6th9
7GMajor 7th11

When to use it

Major and major 7 chords. Lines that resolve to a major key centre. Say the degree numbers out loud as you play. Knowing where the 3 and 5 sit is what lets you build lines straight from a chord chart.

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 major scale 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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