Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 10th fret

D Mixolydian Mode

DEF♯GABC
EADG012345678910111213141516171819202122232423456♭73456♭71256♭7126♭7123451234523456♭71456♭7123456♭71234123456♭71
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
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
D
1
10
2
E
2
12
4
F♯
3
9
1
G
4
10
2
A
5
12
4
B
6
9
1
C
♭7
10
2
D
1
12
4
C
♭7
10
2
B
6
9
1
A
5
12
4
G
4
10
2
F♯
3
9
1
E
2
12
4
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
D1Root
W
E2Major 2nd
W
F♯3Major 3rd
H
G4Perfect 4th
W
A5Perfect 5th
W
B6Major 6th
H
C♭7Minor 7th
W
D8Octave

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

Also called
Mode 5
Vs. major
♭7
Key signature
1 sharp: F♯
Parent major
G
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.

How to play the D Mixolydian mode on bass

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

The root, D, is on the 10th fret of the E string and the 5th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 3rd fret of the low B string.

D Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 10th fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 9 to 12 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------------|
D|---------------9-10-12-|
A|-------9-10-12---------|
E|-10-12-----------------|

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

D Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 5th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 4 to 7 without moving your hand.

G|-----------4-5-7-|
D|-----4-5-7-------|
A|-5-7-------------|
E|-----------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 10th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 10 to 19 with 2 position shifts.

G|----------------------------------14-16-17-19-|
D|-------------------------14-16-17-------------|
A|----------------14-15-17----------------------|
E|-10-12-14-15-17-------------------------------|

Notes: D E F♯ G A B C D E F♯ G A B C D
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 3rd fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 5 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1DRoot0
2EMajor 2nd2
3F♯Major 3rd4
4GPerfect 4th5
5APerfect 5th7
6BMajor 6th9
♭7CMinor 7th10

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

More patterns from D

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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