Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

Mode · 4-string · Root on E string, 3rd fret

G Phrygian Mode

GA♭B♭CDE♭F
EADG0123456789101112131415161718192021222324♭745♭6♭71♭2♭345♭6♭3♭71♭2♭345♭6♭71♭25♭6♭2♭345♭6♭71♭2♭3451♭2♭345♭6♭71♭2♭345♭6♭711♭2♭345♭6♭71

Tab & notation

Up and back down · 14 notes in 8th notes · 2 bars of 4/4
Note
Deg
G
D
A
E
Fing
G
1
3
1
A♭
♭2
4
2
B♭
♭3
6
4
C
4
3
1
D
5
5
3
E♭
♭6
6
4
F
♭7
3
1
G
1
5
3
F
♭7
3
1
E♭
♭6
6
4
D
5
5
3
C
4
3
1
B♭
♭3
6
4
A♭
♭2
4
2
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
G1Root
H
A♭♭2Minor 2nd
W
B♭♭3Minor 3rd
W
C4Perfect 4th
W
D5Perfect 5th
H
E♭♭6Minor 6th
W
F♭7Minor 7th
W
G8Octave

Minor with a ♭2. Dark and tense; heard in flamenco and metal.

Also called
Mode 3
Vs. major
♭2, ♭3, ♭6, ♭7
Key signature
3 flats: A♭ B♭ E♭
Parent major
E♭
Use it over
Minor chords where you want a ♭2 colour, and sus♭9 sounds.
Practice tip
Play the root, then the ♭2 one fret above, and back. That half step is the whole flavour.
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.

The Phrygian mode on bass, in all 12 keys

Minor with a ♭2. Dark and tense; heard in flamenco and metal. Also called: Mode 3.

Formula: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Step pattern: H W W W H W W. Use it over: Minor chords where you want a ♭2 colour, and sus♭9 sounds.

Notes in every key

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

Where the root sits on the neck

KeyE stringA stringB string (5-string)
C831
G3108
D1053
A5010
E075
B720
F♯297
C♯942
G♯4119
D♯1164
B♭6111
F186

Practice tip

Play the root, then the ♭2 one fret above, and back. That half step is the whole flavour.

Every pattern

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

Your progress