Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Arpeggio · 4-string · Root on E string, 9th fret

C♯ Minor 7th Arpeggio

C♯EG♯B

Whole neck Left-handed

Tab & notation

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

Note

Deg

Fing

C♯

♭3

G♯

♭7

C♯

♭7

G♯

♭3

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones

C♯1Root

E♭3Minor 3rd

G♯5Perfect 5th

B♭7Minor 7th

C♯8Octave

A minor triad plus a ♭7. The most common minor sound in funk, soul and jazz.

Also called: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
Use it over: ii and vi chords, minor vamps.
Practice tip: Root on E, the ♭7 lands right under your hand on the D string. Learn that landmark.
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♯ minor 7th arpeggio on bass

The C♯ minor 7th arpeggio has 4 notes: C♯, E, G♯ and B. A minor triad plus a ♭7. The most common minor sound in funk, soul and jazz.

Interval steps: m3 M3 m3 M2. Formula: 1 ♭3 5 ♭7.

The root, C♯, is on the 9th fret of the E string and the 4th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 2nd fret of the low B string.

C♯ Minor 7th Arpeggio tab: root on the E string

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

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

Notes: C♯ E G♯ B C♯
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

C♯ Minor 7th Arpeggio tab: root on the A string

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

G|-------4-6-|
D|-----6-----|
A|-4-7-------|
E|-----------|

Notes: C♯ E G♯ B C♯
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 9th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 9 to 19 with 1 position shift.

G|---------------------16-18-|
D|------------------18-------|
A|------------16-19----------|
E|-9-12-16-19----------------|

Notes: C♯ E G♯ B C♯ E G♯ B C♯
Fingers: 1 4 1 4 1 4 3 1 3

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

Start on the 2nd fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 4 without moving your hand.

G|-----------|
D|-----------|
A|-------2-4-|
E|---0-4-----|
B|-2---------|

Notes: C♯ E G♯ B C♯
Fingers: 2 open 4 2 4

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	C♯	Root	0
♭3	E	Minor 3rd	3
5	G♯	Perfect 5th	7
♭7	B	Minor 7th	10

When to use it

ii and vi chords, minor vamps. Root on E, the ♭7 lands right under your hand on the D string. Learn that landmark.

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 minor 7th arpeggio in every key

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