Arpeggios for the 4-string Bass

The white circle with R represents the root of the chord. The numbers correspond to the scale degrees that make up the chords. Underneath the patterns are commonly used symbols to denote the chord, with the author's preference placed at the beginning.

Basic Triads Major

R 3 5

Minor
R 3 5

Diminished
R 3 5

3 R 5 R
R, RM, Rmaj, R

5 R 3 3
Rm, Rmin, R-

5 R 5

5 R 3
R, Rdim

Augmented
R 3 5

Suspended 2nd
R 2 5

Suspended 4th
R 4 5

3 R 5 3
Raug, R+

5 2 R 5 R 2
Rsus2

4 R 5 4 R
Rsus4

Joe Wells, 2013

Arpeggios for the 4-string Bass

The white circle with R represents the root of the chord. The numbers correspond to the scale degrees that make up the chords. Underneath the patterns are commonly used symbols to denote the chord, with the author's preference placed at the beginning.

Seventh Chords Major 7

R 3 5 7

Minor 7
R 3 5 7

Dominant 7
R 3 5 7

3 R 5 R
RM7, Rmaj7, R7

5 R 3 3
Rm7, Rmin7, R-7,

3 7 R 5 R

3 7 3 R
R7, Rdom7

Diminished 7
R 3 5 7

Half-Diminished 7
R 3 5 7

Minor Major 7
R 3 5 7

3 R 5 R
R7, Rdim7

5 7 3 3
Rm7(5), R, R7

3 R 5 R 7

5 R 5 3 7

Rm(M7), Rm(maj7), Rmin/maj7

Augmented Major 7
R 3 5 7

3 R 5 R
RM7(5), Raug7, R+7

7 3

Joe Wells, 2013

Arpeggios for the 4-string Bass

The white circle with R represents the root of the chord. The numbers correspond to the scale degrees that make up the chords. Underneath the patterns are commonly used symbols to denote the chord, with the author's preference placed at the beginning. Notes marked red denote the use of improper notation. Although an octave of the 2nd, the 9th is actually ABOVE the root's octave. However, it can often be more useful in bass line construction when used as a 2nd.

Ninth Chords Major 9

R 3 5 7 9

Minor 9
R 3 5 7 9

Dominant 9
R 3 5 7 9

3 R 5 9 R 7

5 9 R 5 3 9

3 7 R 5 R 9

3 7

3 R

RM9, R9, Rmaj9

Rm9, R-9, Rmin9

R9, Rdom9

Minor Major 9
R 3 5 7 9

Diminished 9
R 3 5 7 9

Half-Diminished 9
R 3 5 7 9

5 9 R 5 3 9 7

3 R 5 R 9

9 7 3 9

5 R 5 3 9

3 7

R
R9, Rdim9

RmM9, R-M9, Rmin/maj9

Rm9(5), R9

Joe Wells, 2013

Arpeggios for the 4-string Bass

The white circle with R represents the root of the chord. The numbers correspond to the scale degrees that make up the chords. Underneath the patterns are commonly used symbols to denote the chord, with the author's preference placed at the beginning. Notes marked red denote the use of improper notation. Although an octave of the 2nd, the 9th is actually ABOVE the root's octave. However, it can often be more useful in bass line construction when used as a 2nd. Similarly for the 4th and 11th. More often than not, you will encounter the 9(11) chords because they are more harmonically pleasing. Do not assume, though, that any major or dominant 11th chord you come across is going to have an augmented 11th.

Eleventh Chords Major 11

R 3 5 7 9 11

Minor 11
R 3 5 7 9 11

Dominant 11
R 3 5 7 9 11

11 R 5 9

3 7 11 R

5 9

11 R 5 3 9

3 7 11 R

11 R 5 9

3 7 11 R

RM11, Rmaj11

Rm11, Rmin11

R11, Rdom11

Major 9(#11)
R 3 5 7 9 11

Dominant 9(11)
R 3 5 7 9 11

11 R 5 9

3 7 11 R
RM9(11)

11 R

3 7 11 R
R9(11)

5 9

Joe Wells, 2013