Octave Method for Low B : 5-String Bass
Major Scales & Arpeggios


Octave Method for 5-String Bass

Lulu logo

eBook :


Octave Method for Low B : 5-String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 5-string bass
(Low B) based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.


Lulu logo

Paperbook Book :


Octave Method for Five String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 5-string bass
(Low B) based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.

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


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major arpeggio - 3nps : General

In BLOGoZON No.510 the box shapes for the C major arpeggio were presented
using the CAGED octaves methodology for 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG).

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the C major arpeggio, but with 3nps shapes and join them all together for 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) to form one long CAGED octaves chain.

CAGED octaves logo: 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)

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

CAGED octaves fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro8 fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro8: C natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all seven of the CAGED octaves shapes for use with
the three notes per string patterns for a 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG).

C natural octaves (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) : C natural octaves (3nps)

The diagram that follows shows all of the C major arpeggio notes plotted over the
5-string bass' (Drop A - AEADG) fretboard in the CAGED octaves style.

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) : CAGED octaves C major arpeggio fretboard notes

As always a more long term solution to fretboard navigation is to see scales 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 arpeggio are detailed below in the CAGED octaves manner.

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) : CAGED octaves C major arpeggio fretboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all seven box shapes for the
C major arpeggio in the CAGED octaves style.


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major arpeggio - 3nps : box shapes pdf

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5C3C* box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5A3A1 box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5A3A1G box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4G1 box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4E2 box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4E2D* box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 2D* box shape (3nps) pdf

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5C3C* box shape at 12 (3nps) pdf


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major arpeggio - 3nps : YouTube videos

  • 5C3C*
  • 5A3A1
  • 5A3A1G
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 4E2D*
  • 2D*
  • 5C3C* at 12

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5C3C* box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5A3A1 box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEAD) C major arpeggio: 5A3A1G box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4G1 box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4E2 box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4E2D* box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 2D* box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5C3C* box shape at 12 (3nps)


  • 5C3C*
  • 5A3A1
  • 5A3A1G
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 4E2D*
  • 2D*
  • 5C3C* at 12

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5C3C* box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5A3A1 box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5A3A1G box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4G1 box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4E2 box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 4E2D* box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 2D* box shape (3nps)

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio: 5C3C* box shape at 12 (3nps)


Once the individual box shapes have been assimilated all seven shapes should be linked together and played in one continuous exercise (with the first shape - 5C3C* - being repeated at the 12th fret).


The complete GuitarPro8 TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

GuitarPro8 TAB: 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps)


The box shapes for the previous exercise follows:-

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps)

CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major arpeggio - 3nps
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps) pdf

GuitarPro8 TAB: 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps) pdfGuitarPro8 TAB: 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps) pdf

CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major arpeggio - 3nps
Overall fretboard box shapes

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps) : fretboard notes

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major arpeggio box shapes (3nps) : fretboard intervals


Somebody Help Me Out

(Somebody) Help Me Out....Zon Brookes

Beggar & Co.






Return to top of page ^