Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 2nd fret

F♯ Mixolydian Mode

F♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324♭73456♭7123456♭76♭7123456♭71223456♭71234523456♭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
F♯
1
2
2
G♯
2
4
4
A♯
3
1
1
B
4
2
2
C♯
5
4
4
D♯
6
1
1
E
♭7
2
2
F♯
1
4
4
E
♭7
2
2
D♯
6
1
1
C♯
5
4
4
B
4
2
2
A♯
3
1
1
G♯
2
4
4
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
F♯1Root
W
G♯2Major 2nd
W
A♯3Major 3rd
H
B4Perfect 4th
W
C♯5Perfect 5th
W
D♯6Major 6th
H
E♭7Minor 7th
W
F♯8Octave

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

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

The F♯ Mixolydian mode has 7 notes: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯ and E. 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: 5 sharps: F♯ G♯ A♯ C♯ D♯. Parent major: B major scale.

The root, F♯, is on the 2nd fret of the E string and the 9th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 7th fret of the low B string.

F♯ Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 2nd fret of the E string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 1 to 4 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-----------1-2-4-|
A|-----1-2-4-------|
E|-2-4-------------|

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

F♯ Mixolydian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 9th fret of the A string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 8 to 11 without moving your hand.

G|-------------8-9-11-|
D|------8-9-11--------|
A|-9-11---------------|
E|--------------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 2nd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 2 to 11 with 2 position shifts.

G|-----------------------6-8-9-11-|
D|-----------------6-8-9----------|
A|-----------6-7-9----------------|
E|-2-4-6-7-9----------------------|

Notes: F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯
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 7th fret of the B string with your second finger. The shape covers frets 6 to 9 without moving your hand.

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

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1F♯Root0
2G♯Major 2nd2
3A♯Major 3rd4
4BPerfect 4th5
5C♯Perfect 5th7
6D♯Major 6th9
♭7EMinor 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 F♯

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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