Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Scale · 4-string · Root on E string, 5th fret

A Natural Minor Scale

ABCDEFG

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

♭3

♭6

♭7

♭6

♭3

How it's built

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

A1Root

B2Major 2nd

C♭3Minor 3rd

D4Perfect 4th

E5Perfect 5th

F♭6Minor 6th

G♭7Minor 7th

A8Octave

The major scale with a lowered 3rd, 6th and 7th. Darker and heavier; the backbone of rock and pop in minor keys.

Also called: Aeolian mode
Vs. major: ♭3, ♭6, ♭7
Key signature: No sharps or flats
Relative major: C
Use it over: Minor and minor 7 chords, especially the vi chord of a major key.
Practice tip: The relative major starts on the ♭3. Both scales share every note, so their shapes interlock on the neck.
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 A natural minor scale on bass

The A natural minor scale has 7 notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The major scale with a lowered 3rd, 6th and 7th. Darker and heavier; the backbone of rock and pop in minor keys.

Step pattern: W H W W H W W (W = whole step, two frets; H = half step, one fret). Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Key signature: No sharps or flats. Relative major: C major scale.

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

A Natural Minor Scale tab: root on the E string

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

G|-----------------|
D|-------------5-7-|
A|-------5-7-8-----|
E|-5-7-8-----------|

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

A Natural Minor Scale tab: root on the A string

Start on the open string of the A string. The shape covers frets 2 to 3 without moving your hand.

G|-------------0-2-|
D|-------0-2-3-----|
A|-0-2-3-----------|
E|-----------------|

Notes: A B C D E F G A
Fingers: open 2 3 open 2 3 open 2

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 5th fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 5 to 14 with 2 position shifts.

G|-------------------------9-10-12-14-|
D|-------------5-7-9-10-12------------|
A|-------5-7-8------------------------|
E|-5-7-8------------------------------|

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

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

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

G|-------------------------|
D|-------------------------|
A|-------------------10-12-|
E|----------10-12-13-------|
B|-10-12-13----------------|

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

Notes and intervals

Degree	Note	Interval	Frets above the root
1	A	Root	0
2	B	Major 2nd	2
♭3	C	Minor 3rd	3
4	D	Perfect 4th	5
5	E	Perfect 5th	7
♭6	F	Minor 6th	8
♭7	G	Minor 7th	10

When to use it

Minor and minor 7 chords, especially the vi chord of a major key. The relative major starts on the ♭3. Both scales share every note, so their shapes interlock on the neck.

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 natural minor scale in every key

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