Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Arpeggio · 4-string · Root on E string, open string

E Minor 7th Arpeggio

EGBD

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

♭3

♭7

♭3

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones

E1Root

G♭3Minor 3rd

B5Perfect 5th

D♭7Minor 7th

E8Octave

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 E minor 7th arpeggio on bass

The E minor 7th arpeggio has 4 notes: E, G, B and D. 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, E, is on the open string of the E string and the 7th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 5th fret of the low B string.

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

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 2 to 3 without moving your hand.

G|-----------|
D|-------0-2-|
A|-----2-----|
E|-0-3-------|

Notes: E G B D E
Fingers: open 3 2 open 2

E Minor 7th Arpeggio tab: root on the A string

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

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

Notes: E G B D E
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 2 to 9 with 1 position shift.

G|-----------0-4-7-9-|
D|-------0-2---------|
A|-----2-------------|
E|-0-3---------------|

Notes: E G B D E G B D E
Fingers: open 3 2 open 2 open 4 2 4

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

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

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

Notes: E G B D E
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Notes and intervals

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