Octave Method for 6-String Bass (Low B)
Major Scales & Arpeggios


Lulu eBook: 6-string bass (Low B)

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eBook :


Octave Method for Six String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 6-string bass
(Low B) 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 :


Octave Method for Low B : 6-String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 6-String Bass
(Low B) 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


Dave Swift

Dave Swift plus Dingwall bass

Dave Swift is, amongst many other things, the long-time bass player for the Jools Holland Band.

George Benson - On Broadway

BB King - Let The Good Times Roll

Edwin Starr - War

Lional Ritchie - All Night Long

Lisa Stansfield - All Woman

Lional Ritchie - Don't Stop the Music

Dingwall "Dave Swift"


C major scale box shapes for 6 string bass

ZZZZZZ octaves logo

This issue demonstrates the C MAJOR SCALE box shape for 6-string bass with the all important orange letters omitted.

The CAGED octaves sequence is shown for C natural in the diagram that follows:-

ZZZZZZ octaves C natural

GuitarPro6 c natural octaves

The diagrams that follows show all of the C major scale notes plotted over the 6-string bass' fretboard in both the Guitar Pro and CAGED octaves styles:-

GuitarPro6 fingerboard C major scale

ZZZZZZ octaves C major scale

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
CAGED octaves manner:-

ZZZZZZ octaves C major scale intervals

The table and tabbed panel below details all five box shapes for the C major scale in the CAGED octaves style.


6-string bass C major scale box shapes

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6Z4Z1 pdf
4Z2 pdf
5Z2 pdf
5Z3 pdf
6Z3Z1 pdf
6Z4Z1 at 12 pdf


  • 6Z4Z1
  • 4Z2
  • 5Z2
  • 5Z3
  • 6Z3Z1
  • 56Z4Z1 at 12



  • 6Z4Z1
  • 4Z2
  • 5Z2
  • 5Z3
  • 6Z3Z1
  • 6Z4Z1 at 12

6Z4Z1 box

4Z2 box

5Z2 box

5Z3 box

6Z3Z1 box

6Z4Z1 box at 12


Dave Swift

Don't stop the music....Zon Brookes

Jools Halland album cover


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