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
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
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.

How to play the G Phrygian mode on bass

The G Phrygian mode has 7 notes: G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ and F. 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: 3 flats: A♭ B♭ E♭. Parent major: E♭ major scale.

The root, G, is on the 3rd fret of the E string and the 10th fret of the A string. On a five-string bass it is also on the 8th fret of the low B string.

G Phrygian Mode tab: root on the E string

Start on the 3rd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 6 without moving your hand.

G|-----------------|
D|-------------3-5-|
A|-------3-5-6-----|
E|-3-4-6-----------|

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

G Phrygian Mode tab: root on the A string

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

G|-------------------10-12-|
D|----------10-12-13-------|
A|-10-11-13----------------|
E|-------------------------|

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

Two octaves from the E string

Start on the 3rd fret of the E string with your first finger. The shape covers frets 3 to 12 with 1 position shift and 2 one-fret stretches.

G|-------------------------------8-10-12-|
D|-----------------------8-10-12---------|
A|---------------8-10-11-----------------|
E|-3-4-6-8-10-11-------------------------|

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

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

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

G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|----------------8-10-|
E|--------8-10-11------|
B|-8-9-11--------------|

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

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteIntervalFrets above the root
1GRoot0
♭2A♭Minor 2nd1
♭3B♭Minor 3rd3
4CPerfect 4th5
5DPerfect 5th7
♭6E♭Minor 6th8
♭7FMinor 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

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