Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, open string

E Mixolydian Mode

EF♯G♯ABC♯D

Whole neck Left-handed

Tab & notation

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

Note

Deg

Fing

F♯

G♯

C♯

♭7

C♯

G♯

F♯

How it's built

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

E1Root

F♯2Major 2nd

G♯3Major 3rd

A4Perfect 4th

B5Perfect 5th

C♯6Major 6th

D♭7Minor 7th

E8Octave

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

Also called: Mode 5
Vs. major: ♭7
Key signature: 3 sharps: F♯ G♯ C♯
Parent major: A
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 E Mixolydian mode on bass

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

The root, E, is on the open string of the E string and the 7th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 5th fret of the low B string.

E Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 2 to 4 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-------------0-2-|
A|-------0-2-4-----|
E|-0-2-4-----------|

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

E Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 7th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 6 to 9 without moving your hand.

G|-----------6-7-9-|
D|-----6-7-9-------|
A|-7-9-------------|
E|-----------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 2 to 9 with 1 position shift.

G|-------------------------6-7-9-|
D|-------------0-2-4-6-7-9-------|
A|-------0-2-4-------------------|
E|-0-2-4-------------------------|

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

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

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

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

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

Notes and intervals

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