Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Major Scale

GABCDEF♯
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324673456712345626712345671252345671234512345671234567112345671

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 14 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
C
4
3
2
D
5
5
4
E
6
2
1
F♯
7
4
3
G
1
5
4
F♯
7
4
3
E
6
2
1
D
5
5
4
C
4
3
2
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
H
C4Perfect 4th
W
D5Perfect 5th
W
E6Major 6th
W
F♯7Major 7th
H
G8Octave

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

Also called
Ionian mode
Key signature
1 sharp: F♯
Relative minor
E
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 G major scale on bass

The G major scale has 7 notes: G, A, B, C, D, E and F♯. 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: 1 sharp: F♯. Relative minor: E natural minor scale.

The root, G, is on the 3rd fret of the E string and the 10th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 8th fret of the low B string.

G Major Scale tab: root on the E string

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

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

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

G Major Scale tab: root on the A string

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

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

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 3rd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 12 with 1 position shift and 2 one-fret stretches.

G|-----------------------------9-11-12-|
D|---------------------9-10-12---------|
A|-------3-5-7-9-10-12-----------------|
E|-3-5-7-------------------------------|

Notes: G A B C D E F♯ G A B C D E F♯ G
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 8th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 10 without moving your hand.

G|--------------------|
D|--------------------|
A|-------------7-9-10-|
E|------7-8-10--------|
B|-8-10---------------|

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1GRoot0
2AMajor 2nd2
3BMajor 3rd4
4CPerfect 4th5
5DPerfect 5th7
6EMajor 6th9
7F♯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 G

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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