Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Minor 7th Arpeggio

GB♭DF
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324♭75♭71♭35♭3♭71♭35♭715♭35♭71♭351♭35♭71♭35♭711♭35♭71

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 8 notes in 8th notes · 1 bar of 4/4
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
G
1
3
1
B♭
♭3
6
4
D
5
5
3
F
♭7
3
1
G
1
5
3
F
♭7
3
1
D
5
5
3
B♭
♭3
6
4

How it's built

Intervals between chord tones
G1Root
m3
B♭♭3Minor 3rd
M3
D5Perfect 5th
m3
F♭7Minor 7th
M2
G8Octave

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

Add BPM every loops, up to BPM
every loops
Cycling 4ths is how jazz players drill a shape in all twelve keys.

How to play the G minor 7th arpeggio on bass

The G minor 7th arpeggio has 4 notes: G, B♭, D and F. 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, G, is on the 3rd fret of the E string and the 10th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 8th fret of the low B string.

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

Start on the 3rd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 6 without moving your hand.

G|-----------|
D|-------3-5-|
A|-----5-----|
E|-3-6-------|

Notes: G B♭ D F G
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

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

Start on the 10th fret of the A string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 10 to 13 without moving your hand.

G|----------10-12-|
D|-------12-------|
A|-10-13----------|
E|----------------|

Notes: G B♭ D F G
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 3rd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 13 with 1 position shift.

G|--------------------10-12-|
D|-----------------12-------|
A|-----------10-13----------|
E|-3-6-10-13----------------|

Notes: G B♭ D F G B♭ D F G
Fingers: 1 4 1 4 1 4 3 1 3

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

Start on the 8th fret of the B string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 11 without moving your hand.

G|--------------|
D|--------------|
A|---------8-10-|
E|------10------|
B|-8-11---------|

Notes: G B♭ D F G
Fingers: 1 4 3 1 3

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1GRoot0
♭3B♭Minor 3rd3
5DPerfect 5th7
♭7FMinor 7th10

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

More patterns from G

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

Your progress