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


BAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the C major scale (ionian mode) for
6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG) forming one long BAGED octaves chain.

BAGED octaves logo: 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)

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

BAGED octaves fingerboard : C natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all five of the BAGED octaves shapes for use with the
standard patterns for a 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG).

BAGED octaves : C natural octave shapes (3nps)

GuitarPro8 fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro8 C natural octaves: 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)

The diagram that follows shows all five of the BAGED octaves shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG).

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG) : C natural octaves

The diagrams that follow show all of the C major scale (ionian mode) notes plotted over the
6-string bass' fretboard in the BAGED octaves and GuitarPro6 styles:-

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG) : C major scale (ionian mode) fingerboard notes

GuitarPro8 fingerboard : C major scale (ionian mode)

GuitarPro8: C major scale (ionian mode) fingerboard

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 scale (ionian mode) are detailed below in the BAGED octaves manner.

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG) : C major scale (ionian mode) fingerboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the
C major scale (ionian mode) in the BAGED octaves style.


BAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : YouTube videos & pdf files

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5B3 box shape pdf
BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1 box shape pdf
BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6G4G1 box shape pdf
BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6E4E2 box shape pdf
BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5D2 box shape pdf
BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5B3 box shape at 12 pdf

BAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : Box shapes on YouTube

  • 5B3
  • 3A1
  • 6G4G1
  • 6E4E2
  • 5D2
  • 5B3 at 12

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5B3 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6G4G1 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6E4E2 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5D2 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5B3 box shape at 12


BAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : Box shapes & TAB

  • 5B3
  • 3A1
  • 6G4G1
  • 6E4E2
  • 5D2
  • 5B3 at 12

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5B3 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6G4G1 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6E4E2 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5D2 box shape

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5B3 box shape at 12


Once the individual box shapes have been assimilated all five shapes should be linked together and played in one continuous exercise (with the first shape - 5B3 - being repeated at the 12th fret).


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

GuitarPro8 TAB : C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes


The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes

BAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode)
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro7 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes pdf

GuitarPro8 TAB : BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes pdfGuitarPro8 TAB : BAGED octaves 6-string bass (Drop E0 standard - EBEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes pdf


BAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Drop E0 - EBEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : Overall fretboard box shapes

BAF#GED octaves 6-string bass (F#0 standard - F#BEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes : entire fretboard notes

BAF#GED octaves 6-string bass (F#0 standard - F#BEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes : entire fretboard intervals


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