Ba s Co r b s & MuscBo k s , nt a a s i os

Ba sc nta a ss o e & b o s Muscb o s& la ni ma e il s ,o r b s c r s o k . i o k e r ng t ras htp: t //bas ko. ogs . om s bl potc

Scales and Arpeggios

Absolute Beginners

By J.P Dias .
Copyright 2004-2005

To Paula

Contents
Introduction................................................8

1. Basic of Reading Music.........................9 2. Major Modes........................................10 4. Minor Scales........................................24 3. Pentatonic Scales................................30

5. Symmetrical Diminished............................32

6. Triads...................................................37 7. Arpeggios.............................................38

Introduction

The purpose of this book is to help beginner bassist to find the easiest way to play scales, triads and arpeggios. All the examples are written in the key of C in order to make easer the scale comparison. Most scales can be played in more than two positions, so that I would suggest to find all possible roots and play the same fingering showed, also play them in different keys. This book is not intended to be a method and I strongly recommend to find a qualified teacher to help you assimilate the information on this book.

Have Fun

Basics of Reading Music

The fundamentals of music are pitch and rhythm which are placed in a grid of five lines and four spaces called Staff. Bass Players Read Bass Clef. The symbol of the Bass Clef is derived from the old German way of writing F. The two dots on the right of the bass clef symbol surround the line on which F pitch is written.

The notes above are all natural however any of this notes can be raised or lowered a half step by placing a accidental, sharp (#) or flat (b) right before it. When an accidental occurs, it applies to the whole measure unless it is cancelled out with another accidental.

Sharp (#) Raises a note one half step. Flat (b) Lowers a notes one half step. Natural (n) Cancells an accidental previously used.

b F#/ G

b G#/ A

b A#/ B

b C #/ D

b D#/ E

F #/ G

b G#/ A

b A# / B

b C #/ D

Note: The distance between B and C and E and F is a half step, thats way there's no # or b in between those notes. J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 9

Major Modes
C Ionian Scale

Fingering

Scale
C Ionian

Triad
C

Arpeggio
Cmaj7

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

C Ionian

Cmaj7

8th Fret

8th Fret

8th Fret

10

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

C Ionian Scale (Imaj7)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 11

Major Modes
D Dorian Scale

Fingering

Scale
D Dorian
5th Fret 5th Fret

Triad
Dm
5th Fret

Arpeggio
Dm7

D Dorian
10th Fret 10th Fret

Dm
10th Fret

Dm7

12

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

D Dorian Scale (IIm7)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 13

Major Modes
E Phrygian Scale

Fingering

Scale
E Phrygian
7th Fret 7th Fret

Triad
Em
7th Fret

Arpeggio
Em7

E Phrygian
12th Fret* 12th Fret*

Em
12th Fret*

Em7

*This Scale, Triad and Arpeggio could be played one 8va Lower Starting from E open String

14

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

E Phrygian Scale (IIIm7)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 15

Major Modes
F Lydian Scale

Fingering

Scale
F Lydian

Triad
F

Arpeggio
Fmaj7

8th Fret

8th Fret

8th Fret

F Lydian
(Open String)

F
(Open String)

Fmaj7
(Open String)

1st Fret

1st Fret

1st Fret

16

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

F Lydian Scale (IVmaj7)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 17

Major Modes
G Mixolydian Scale

Fingering

Scale
G Mixolydian

Triad
G

Arpeggio
G7

10th Fret

10th Fret

10th Fret

G Mixolydian

G7

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

18

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

G Mixolydian Scale (V7)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 19

Major Modes
A Aeolian Scale

Fingering

Scale
A Aeolian
12th Fret 12th Fret

Triad
Am
12th Fret

Arpeggio
Am7

A Aeolian
5th Fret 5th Fret

Am
5th Fret

Am7

20

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

A Aeolian Scale (VIm7)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 21

Major Modes
B Locrian Scale

Fingering

Scale
B Locrian
14th Fret 14th Fret

Triad
B
14th Fret

Arpeggio
Bm7 b5

B Locrian
7th Fret 7th Fret

B
7th Fret

Bm7 b5

22

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

B Locrian Scale (VIIm7 )

Exercise 1

b5

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 23

Minor Scales
C Natural Minor Scale

Fingering

Scale
C Natural Minor
3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Triad
Cm
3rd Fret

Arpeggio
Cm7

C Natural Minor
8th Fret 8th Fret

Cm
8th Fret

Cm7

24

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

C Natural Minor (Aeolian Scale)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 25

Minor Scales Cont.

C Harmonic Minor Scale

Fingering

Scale
C Harmonic Minor
3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Triad
Cm

Arpeggio
Cm(maj7)
3rd Fret

C Harmonic Minor
8th Fret 8th Fret

Cm
8th Fret

Cm(maj7)

26

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

C Harmonic Minor
Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 27

Minor Scales Cont.

C Melodic Minor Scale
Ascending Descending

Fingering

Scale
C Melodic Minor Ascending
3rd Fret

Triad
Cm
3rd Fret

C Melodic Minor Descending

3rd Fret

C Melodic Minor Ascending

8th Fret

C Melodic Minor Descending

8th Fret 8th Fret

Cm

28

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

C Melodic Minor
Exercise 1a

Exercise 1b

Exercise 2a

Exercise 2b

Exercise 3

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 29

Pentatonic Scales
C Major Pentatonic C Minor Pentatonic C Blues Scale

( )
Fingering

C Major Pentatonic

C Minor Pentatonic

C Blues Scale

3rd Fret

3rd Fret
)

C Major Pentatonic
Played on 4 strings

C Minor Pentatonic
Played on 4 strings

C Blues Scale
Played on 4 strings

8th Fret

8th Fret
)

8th Fret
(

30

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

3rd Fret

Pentatonic Scales Cont.

Exercise 1 C Major Pentatonic

Exercise 2

C Major Pentatonic

Exercise 3

C Major Pentatonic

Exercise 4

C Minor Pentatonic

Exercise 5

C Blues Scale

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 31

Symetrical Diminished
C Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step

Fingering

Scale
C Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step
3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Triad
C

Arpeggio
C7
3rd Fret

C Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step

8th Fret 8th Fret

C
8th Fret

C7

32

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

C Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 33

Symetrical Diminished
C Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step

Fingering

Scale
C Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step
3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Triad
C

Arpeggio
C7
3rd Fret

C Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step

8th Fret 8th Fret

C
8th Fret

C7

34

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

C Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 35

Triads

Cm

C+

Csus

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 37

Arpeggios

38

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios

Arpeggios Cont.
Cmaj7 C+7

Cm(maj7)

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

C7

Cm7(b5)

C7

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

C+maj7

Cm7

Csus7

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios 39

Arpeggios Cont.
C6
Cm6

3rd Fret 3rd Fret

40

J.P. Diass Scales & Arpeggios