Octave Method for Low E : 4-String Bass
Major Scales & Arpeggios


CAGED4BASS eBook cover

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eBook :


Octave Method for Four String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 4-string bass based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using linked octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.


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Paperbook Book :


CAGED4BASS : Octave Method for 4-String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 4-string bass guitar based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using linked octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.

Octave Method for Low B : 5-String Bass Paper Book


Billy Sheehan


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C major scale and C major arpeggio box shapes

In BLOGoZON No.34 the box shapes for the C MAJOR SCALE were presented using the CAGED4BASS methodology - this is the CAGED guitar system adapted and improved for bass guitar.

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In this weeks BLOGoZON the box shapes for the C major scale are revisited but this time the undelying
3-note chord/arpeggio is presented i.e. C major.

Hence the CAGED4BASS sequence is shown for C natural in the diagram that follows:-

CAGED4BASS C nautral octave shapes

guitarpro6_c_natural octaves

The diagrams that follow show all of the C major scale notes plotted over the 4-string bass's fretboard in both the Guitar Pro and CAGED4BASS styles:-

GuitarPro6 fingerboard C major scale

CAGED4BASS C amjor scale notes

As always a more long term solution to fretboard navigation is to see scales/arpeggios as INTERVAL shapes rather than note names - as these are universal to all scales, arpeggios and chords rather than specific to one particular root note - with this in mind the intervals for the C major scale are detailed below in the
CAGED4BASS manner:-

CAGED4BASS C major scale intervals

All scales and modes have an underlying triad - 3 note chord - that defines their basic tonality.

In the case of the C major scale this is the C major arpeggio - hence the notes for a C major arpeggio

are presented in both the Guitar Pro and CAGED4BASS styles:-

GuitarPro6 fingerboard C major arpeggio

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio notes

Similarly the intervals forming a C major arpeggio are shown next:-

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the C major scale and the
C major arpeggio in the CAGED4BASS style.


CAGED4BASS - C major scale box shapes

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3C* pdf
3A1 pdf
4G1 pdf
4E2 pdf
2D* pdf
3C8 at 12 pdf

  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12


  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12

3C* box

3A1 pdf

4G1 box

4E2 box

2D* box

3C* box at fret 12


CAGED octaves - C major arpeggio box shapes

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3C* pdf
3A1 pdf
4G1 pdf
4E2 pdf
2D* pdf
3C* at 12 pdf

  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12


  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12

3C* box

3A1 box

4G1 box

4E2 box

2D* box

3C* box at fret 12


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