Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Scale · 4-string · Root on E string, 9th fret

D♭ Major Scale

D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C
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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
D♭
1
9
2
E♭
2
11
4
F
3
8
1
G♭
4
9
2
A♭
5
11
4
B♭
6
8
1
C
7
10
3
D♭
1
11
4
C
7
10
3
B♭
6
8
1
A♭
5
11
4
G♭
4
9
2
F
3
8
1
E♭
2
11
4
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
D♭1Root
W
E♭2Major 2nd
W
F3Major 3rd
H
G♭4Perfect 4th
W
A♭5Perfect 5th
W
B♭6Major 6th
W
C7Major 7th
H
D♭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
5 flats: D♭ E♭ G♭ A♭ B♭
Relative minor
B♭
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 D♭ major scale on bass

The D♭ major scale has 7 notes: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭ and C. 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: 5 flats: D♭ E♭ G♭ A♭ B♭. Relative minor: B♭ natural minor scale.

The root, D♭, is on the 9th fret of the E string and the 4th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 2nd fret of the low B string.

D♭ Major Scale tab: root on the E string

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

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

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

D♭ Major Scale tab: root on the A string

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

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

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 9th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 9 to 18 with 1 position shift and 2 one-fret stretches.

G|-----------------------------------15-17-18-|
D|--------------------------15-16-18----------|
A|---------9-11-13-15-16-18-------------------|
E|-9-11-13------------------------------------|

Notes: D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭
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 2nd fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

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

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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