Bass WoodshedScales, modes and arpeggios for bass

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

E Phrygian Mode

EFGABCD
EADG012345678910111213141516171819202122232445♭6♭71♭2♭345♭6♭71♭71♭2♭345♭6♭71♭2♭34♭2♭345♭6♭71♭2♭345♭6♭7♭345♭6♭71♭2♭345♭6♭71♭2♭31♭2♭345♭6♭71
RootScale noteDefining note (♭2): 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
E
1
0
o
F
♭2
1
1
G
♭3
3
3
A
4
0
o
B
5
2
2
C
♭6
3
3
D
♭7
0
o
E
1
2
2
D
♭7
0
o
C
♭6
3
3
B
5
2
2
A
4
0
o
G
♭3
3
3
F
♭2
1
1
·

How it's built

W = whole step (2 frets) · H = half step (1 fret)
E1Root
H
F♭2Minor 2nd
W
G♭3Minor 3rd
W
A4Perfect 4th
W
B5Perfect 5th
H
C♭6Minor 6th
W
D♭7Minor 7th
W
E8Octave

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

Also called
Mode 3
Vs. major
♭2, ♭3, ♭6, ♭7
Key signature
No sharps or flats
Parent major
C
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.

How to play the E Phrygian mode on bass

The E Phrygian mode has 7 notes: E, F, G, A, B, C and D. Minor with a ♭2. Dark and tense; heard in flamenco and metal.

Step pattern: H W 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. Parent major: C 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 Phrygian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 1 to 3 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-------------0-2-|
A|-------0-2-3-----|
E|-0-1-3-----------|

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

E Phrygian Mode tab: root on the A string

Start on the 7th fret of the A string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 7 to 10 without moving your hand.

G|---------------7-9-|
D|--------7-9-10-----|
A|-7-8-10------------|
E|-------------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the open string of the E string. The shape covers frets 1 to 9 with 1 position shift and 1 one-fret stretch.

G|-------------------0-2-4-5-7-9-|
D|-------------0-2-3-------------|
A|-------0-2-3-------------------|
E|-0-1-3-------------------------|

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

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

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

G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-------------5-7-|
E|-------5-7-8-----|
B|-5-6-8-----------|

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1ERoot0
♭2FMinor 2nd1
♭3GMinor 3rd3
4APerfect 4th5
5BPerfect 5th7
♭6CMinor 6th8
♭7DMinor 7th10

When to use it

Minor chords where you want a ♭2 colour, and sus♭9 sounds. Play the root, then the ♭2 one fret above, and back. That half step is the whole flavour.

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 Phrygian mode in every key

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

More patterns from E

Scales

Modes

Arpeggios

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