Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Arpeggio · 4-string · Root on E string, 8th fret

C Major Triad

CEG

Whole neck Left-handed

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 6 notes in 8th notes · 1 bar of 4/4 Bass clef

Note

Deg

Fing

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones

C1Root

E3Major 3rd

G5Perfect 5th

C8Octave

Root, major 3rd and perfect 5th. Most bass lines are built on these three notes.

Also called: 1 · 3 · 5
Use it over: Any major chord.
Practice tip: Play the root on beat 1, then use the 3rd and 5th to walk toward the next chord.
Your best: Complete a loop to log a tempo for this pattern.

Practice routine

One-bar count-in

Speed builder

Add BPM every loops, up to BPM

Move through keys

every loops

Cycling 4ths is how jazz players drill a shape in all twelve keys.

Memory mode: hide the tab and fingering after the first loop Small speakers: play the bass an octave higher

Bass Click Drone Chords Drums

How to play the C major triad on bass

The C major triad has 3 notes: C, E and G. Root, major 3rd and perfect 5th. Most bass lines are built on these three notes.

Interval steps: M3 m3 P4. Formula: 1 3 5.

The root, C, is on the 8th fret of the E string and the 3rd fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 1st fret of the low B string.

C Major Triad tab: root on the E string

Start on the 8th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 10 without moving your hand.

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

Notes: C E G C
Fingers: 2 1 4 4

C Major Triad tab: root on the A string

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

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

Notes: C E G C
Fingers: 2 1 4 4

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 8th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 17 with 1 position shift.

G|-----------------17-|
D|--------10-14-17----|
A|---7-10-------------|
E|-8------------------|

Notes: C E G C E G C
Fingers: 2 1 4 4 1 4 4

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

Start on the 1st fret of the B string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 3 without moving your hand.

G|---------|
D|---------|
A|-------3-|
E|---0-3---|
B|-1-------|

Notes: C E G C
Fingers: 1 open 3 3

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	C	Root	0
3	E	Major 3rd	4
5	G	Perfect 5th	7

When to use it

Any major chord. Play the root on beat 1, then use the 3rd and 5th to walk toward the next chord.

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 triad in every key

Printable chart of all 12 keys: PDF · print page · every pattern in one PDF