Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Melodic Minor

GAB♭CDEF♯
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324672♭3456712♭345656712♭345671212♭3456712♭3452♭3456712♭34567112♭345671

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
3
A
2
0
o
B♭
♭3
1
1
C
4
3
3
D
5
0
o
E
6
2
2
F♯
7
4
4
G
1
0
o
F♯
7
4
4
E
6
2
2
D
5
0
o
C
4
3
3
B♭
♭3
1
1
A
2
0
o
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
G1Root
W
A2Major 2nd
H
B♭♭3Minor 3rd
W
C4Perfect 4th
W
D5Perfect 5th
W
E6Major 6th
W
F♯7Major 7th
H
G8Octave

A major scale with a lowered 3rd. Jazz players use it in both directions; classical players lower the 6th and 7th on the way down.

Also called
Jazz minor
Vs. major
♭3
Relative major
B♭
Use it over
Minor-major 7 chords and minor tonic chords in jazz.
Practice tip
Compare it with the major scale on the same root. Only one note moves: the 3rd, down one fret.
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.

The melodic minor on bass, in all 12 keys

A major scale with a lowered 3rd. Jazz players use it in both directions; classical players lower the 6th and 7th on the way down. Also called: Jazz minor.

Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7. Step pattern: W H W W W W H. Use it over: Minor-major 7 chords and minor tonic chords in jazz.

Notes in every key

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

Where the root sits on the neck

KeyE stringA stringB string (5-string)
C831
G3108
D1053
A5010
E075
B720
F♯297
C♯942
G♯4119
E♭1164
B♭6111
F186

Practice tip

Compare it with the major scale on the same root. Only one note moves: the 3rd, down one fret.

Every pattern

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

Your progress