Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Scale · 4-string · Root on E string, 10th fret

D Major Scale

DEF♯GABC♯
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324234567345671256712671234512345234567145671234567123412345671

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
10
2
E
2
12
4
F♯
3
9
1
G
4
10
2
A
5
12
4
B
6
9
1
C♯
7
11
3
D
1
12
4
C♯
7
11
3
B
6
9
1
A
5
12
4
G
4
10
2
F♯
3
9
1
E
2
12
4
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
D1Root
W
E2Major 2nd
W
F♯3Major 3rd
H
G4Perfect 4th
W
A5Perfect 5th
W
B6Major 6th
W
C♯7Major 7th
H
D8Octave

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

Also called
Ionian mode
Key signature
2 sharps: F♯ C♯
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: 2 sharps: F♯ C♯. Relative minor: B natural minor scale.

The root, D, is on the 10th fret of the E string and the 5th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 3rd fret of the low B string.

D Major Scale tab: root on the E string

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

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

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

G|-----------4-6-7-|
D|-----4-5-7-------|
A|-5-7-------------|
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 10th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 10 to 19 with 1 position shift and 2 one-fret stretches.

G|-------------------------------------16-18-19-|
D|----------------------------16-17-19----------|
A|----------10-12-14-16-17-19-------------------|
E|-10-12-14-------------------------------------|

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 3rd fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 5 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-----------2-4-5-|
E|-----2-3-5-------|
B|-3-5-------------|

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
1DRoot0
2EMajor 2nd2
3F♯Major 3rd4
4GPerfect 4th5
5APerfect 5th7
6BMajor 6th9
7C♯Major 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

Your progress