Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Scale · 4-string · Root on E string, 11th fret

E♭ Major Scale

E♭FGA♭B♭CD
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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
E♭
1
11
2
F
2
13
4
G
3
10
1
A♭
4
11
2
B♭
5
13
4
C
6
10
1
D
7
12
3
E♭
1
13
4
D
7
12
3
C
6
10
1
B♭
5
13
4
A♭
4
11
2
G
3
10
1
F
2
13
4
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
E♭1Root
W
F2Major 2nd
W
G3Major 3rd
H
A♭4Perfect 4th
W
B♭5Perfect 5th
W
C6Major 6th
W
D7Major 7th
H
E♭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
3 flats: E♭ A♭ B♭
Relative minor
C
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 E♭ major scale on bass

The E♭ major scale has 7 notes: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C and D. 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: 3 flats: E♭ A♭ B♭. Relative minor: C natural minor scale.

The root, E♭, is on the 11th fret of the E string and the 6th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 4th fret of the low B string.

E♭ Major Scale tab: root on the E string

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

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

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

E♭ Major Scale tab: root on the A string

Start on the 6th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 5 to 8 without moving your hand.

G|-----------5-7-8-|
D|-----5-6-8-------|
A|-6-8-------------|
E|-----------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 11th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 11 to 20 with 1 position shift and 2 one-fret stretches.

G|-------------------------------------17-19-20-|
D|----------------------------17-18-20----------|
A|----------11-13-15-17-18-20-------------------|
E|-11-13-15-------------------------------------|

Notes: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭
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 4th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 6 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

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

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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