Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 6th fret

B♭ Mixolydian Mode

B♭CDE♭FGA♭

Whole neck Left-handed

RootScale noteDefining note (♭7): what sets this mode apartThe same notes elsewhere on the neckNumbers are scale degrees (1 is the root)

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 14 notes in 8th notes · 2 bars of 4/4 Bass clef

Note

Deg

Fing

B♭

E♭

A♭

♭7

B♭

A♭

♭7

E♭

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)

B♭1Root

C2Major 2nd

D3Major 3rd

E♭4Perfect 4th

F5Perfect 5th

G6Major 6th

A♭♭7Minor 7th

B♭8Octave

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

Also called: Mode 5
Vs. major: ♭7
Key signature: 3 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭
Parent major: E♭
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

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 B♭ Mixolydian mode on bass

The B♭ Mixolydian mode has 7 notes: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G and A♭. Major with a ♭7. The sound of dominant 7 chords, blues-rock and funk.

Step pattern: W W H W W H W (W = whole step, two frets; H = half step, one fret). Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ♭7. Key signature: 3 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭. Parent major: E♭ major scale.

The root, B♭, is on the 6th fret of the E string and the 1st fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 11th fret of the low B string.

B♭ Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 6th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 5 to 8 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-----------5-6-8-|
A|-----5-6-8-------|
E|-6-8-------------|

Notes: B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Fingers: 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

B♭ Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 1st fret of the A string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 3 without moving your hand.

G|-----------0-1-3-|
D|-----0-1-3-------|
A|-1-3-------------|
E|-----------------|

Notes: B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Fingers: 1 3 open 1 3 open 1 3

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 6th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 6 to 15 with 2 position shifts.

G|--------------------------------10-12-13-15-|
D|-----------------------10-12-13-------------|
A|--------------10-11-13----------------------|
E|-6-8-10-11-13-------------------------------|

Notes: B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Fingers: 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 4

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

Start on the 11th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 10 to 13 without moving your hand.

G|-------------------------|
D|-------------------------|
A|----------------10-11-13-|
E|-------10-11-13----------|
B|-11-13-------------------|

Notes: B♭ C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Fingers: 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	B♭	Root	0
2	C	Major 2nd	2
3	D	Major 3rd	4
4	E♭	Perfect 4th	5
5	F	Perfect 5th	7
6	G	Major 6th	9
♭7	A♭	Minor 7th	10

When to use it

Dominant 7 chords and rock progressions built on ♭VII. Outline 1, 3, 5, ♭7 first, then fill in the gaps. That is a dominant bass line.

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 Mixolydian mode in every key

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