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

CAGED4BASS eBook cover

 Lulu logo

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.
Lulu logo

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

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst "Masterpiece Aged"

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps
and join them all together to form one long CAGED4BASS chain.

CAGED4BASS octave shapes (3nps)

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

CAGED4BASS C natural fingerboard

guitarpro6_c_natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all seven of the CAGED4BASS shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 4-string bass tuned to EADG :-

CAGED4BASS : C natural octaves (3nps)

The diagrams that follows show all of the C major scale (ionian mode) notes plotted over the
4-string bass guitar's fretboard in the CAGED4BASS and GuitarPro7 style.

C major scale (ionian mode) : CAGED4BASS fingerboard notes

GuitarPro7 fingerboard : C major scale (ionian mode)

GuitarPro7: C major scale (ionian mode)

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 CAGED4BASS manner:-

C major scale (ionian mode) : CAGED4BASS fingerboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all seven box shapes for the
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps in the CAGED4BASS style for Low E tuning.

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 3C* box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1 box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1G box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 4G1 box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 4E2 box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 4E2D* box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 2D* box shape pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) : 3C* box shape at 12 pdf (3nps)

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes

  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 3A1G
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 4E2D*
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 3C* box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 3A1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 3A1G box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 4G1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 4E2 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 4E2D* box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 2D* box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 3C* box shape at 12

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes

  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 3A1G
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 4E2D*
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3C* box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1 box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3A1G box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 4G1 box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 4E2 box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 4E2D* box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 2D* box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major scale (ionian mode) : 3C* 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 - 3C* - being repeated at the 12th fret).

The video shown to the right demonstrates the CAGED4BASS chain-linked sequence for the C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes.

The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes TAB

The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes pdf

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes TAB pdfCAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes TAB pdf

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps
Overall fretboard box shapes

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes : fretboard notes

CAGED4BASS C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes : fretboard intervals

Sandberg California TT4 Goldburst Masterpiece Aged

Crazy love....Zon Brookes

MJ Cole - Crazy Love

Return to top of page ^