Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Arpeggio · 4-string · Root on E string, 2nd fret

F♯ Minor 7th Arpeggio

F♯AC♯E

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

F♯

♭3

C♯

♭7

F♯

♭7

C♯

♭3

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones

F♯1Root

A♭3Minor 3rd

C♯5Perfect 5th

E♭7Minor 7th

F♯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 F♯ minor 7th arpeggio on bass

The F♯ minor 7th arpeggio has 4 notes: F♯, A, C♯ and E. 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, F♯, is on the 2nd fret of the E string and the 9th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 7th fret of the low B string.

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

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

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

Notes: F♯ A C♯ E F♯
Fingers: 2 open 4 2 4

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

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

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

Notes: F♯ A C♯ E F♯
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 2nd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 12 with 1 position shift.

G|------------------9-11-|
D|---------------11------|
A|----------9-12---------|
E|-2-5-9-12--------------|

Notes: F♯ A C♯ E F♯ A C♯ E F♯
Fingers: 1 4 1 4 1 4 3 1 3

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

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

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

Notes: F♯ A C♯ E F♯
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Notes and intervals

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