Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

G Mixolydian Mode

GABCDEF
EADG01234567891011121314151617181920212223246♭73456♭712345626♭7123456♭712523456♭712345123456♭7123456♭71123456♭71

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

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
G1Root
W
A2Major 2nd
W
B3Major 3rd
H
C4Perfect 4th
W
D5Perfect 5th
W
E6Major 6th
H
F♭7Minor 7th
W
G8Octave

Major with a ♭7. The sound of dominant 7 chords, blues-rock and funk.

Also called
Mode 5
Vs. major
♭7
Key signature
No sharps or flats
Parent major
C
Use it over
Dominant 7 chords and rock progressions built on ♭VII.
Practice tip
Outline 1, 3, 5, ♭7 first, then fill in the gaps. That is a dominant bass line.
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 Mixolydian mode on bass, in all 12 keys

Major with a ♭7. The sound of dominant 7 chords, blues-rock and funk. Also called: Mode 5.

Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. Step pattern: W W H W W H W. Use it over: Dominant 7 chords and rock progressions built on ♭VII.

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
D♭942
A♭4119
E♭1164
B♭6111
F186

Practice tip

Outline 1, 3, 5, ♭7 first, then fill in the gaps. That is a dominant bass line.

Every pattern

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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