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.

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C pentatonic major scale and C major arpeggio box shapes

In BLOGoZON No.38 the box shapes for the C pentatonic 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 pentatonic 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 pentatonic major scale notes plotted over the 4-string bass's fretboard in both the Guitar Pro and CAGED4BASS styles:-

GuitarPro6 C pentatonic major fingerboard

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major 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 pentatonic major scale are detailed below in the CAGED4BASS manner:-

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic 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 pentatonic 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 pentatonic major scale 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


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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