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.

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


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Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged

Sandberg TM2 Black Masterpiece Aged


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the C major arpeggio
and join them all together to form one long CAGED4BASS chain.

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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 five of the CAGED4BASS shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 4-string bass tuned to EADG :-

CAGED4BASS octave shapes

CAGED4BASS : C natural octaves

The diagrams that follows show all of the C major arpeggio notes plotted over the
4-string bass guitar's fretboard in the CAGED4BASS style:-

CAGED4BASS : C major arpeggio fingerboard 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 CAGED4BASS manner:-

CAGED4BASS : C major arpeggio fingerboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the C major arpeggio
in the CAGED4BASS style for Low E tuning.


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio box shapes

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CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio : 3C* box shape
CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio : 3A1 box shape
CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio : 4G1 box shape
CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio : 4E2 box shape
CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio : 2D* box shape
CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio : 3C* box shape at 12

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio box shapes

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

GuitarPro6 3C* box shape

GuitarPro6 3A1 box shape

GuitarPro6 4G1 box shape

GuitarPro6 4E2 box shape

GuitarPro6 2D* box shape

GuitarPro6 3C* box shape at 12


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio box shapes

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

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

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

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 4G1 box shape

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 4E2 box shape

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

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 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 arpeggio box shapes.


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

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


The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

CAGED4BASS : C major arpeggio box shapes

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

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CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major arpeggio box shapes pdf

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major arpeggio box shapes TAB pdfCAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major arpeggio box shapes TAB pdf


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio : Overall fretboard box shapes

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass: Low E) fingerboard C major arpeggio notes pdf

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass: Low E) fingerboard C major arpeggio intervals pdf


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