Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 8th fret

C Mixolydian Mode

CDEFGAB♭

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♭

♭7

B♭

♭7

How it's built

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

C1Root

D2Major 2nd

E3Major 3rd

F4Perfect 4th

G5Perfect 5th

A6Major 6th

B♭♭7Minor 7th

C8Octave

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

Also called: Mode 5
Vs. major: ♭7
Key signature: 1 flat: B♭
Parent major: F
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 C Mixolydian mode on bass

The C Mixolydian mode has 7 notes: C, D, E, F, G, A and B♭. 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: 1 flat: B♭. Parent major: F major scale.

The root, C, is on the 8th fret of the E string and the 3rd fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 1st fret of the low B string.

C Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 8th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 10 without moving your hand.

G|--------------------|
D|-------------7-8-10-|
A|------7-8-10--------|
E|-8-10---------------|

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

C Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 3rd fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 5 without moving your hand.

G|-----------2-3-5-|
D|-----2-3-5-------|
A|-3-5-------------|
E|-----------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 8th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 17 with 2 position shifts.

G|---------------------------------12-14-15-17-|
D|------------------------12-14-15-------------|
A|---------------12-13-15----------------------|
E|-8-10-12-13-15-------------------------------|

Notes: C D E F G A B♭ C D E F G A B♭ C
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 1st fret of the B string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 3 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

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