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


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps
and join them all together to form one long AGEDC4BASS chain.

AGEDC4BASS A natural octave shapes (3nps)

Hence the AGEDC4BASS sequence is shown for A natural in the diagram that follows.

AGEDC4BASS A natural octaves fingerboard

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : A natural octaves

GuitarPro6 A natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all seven of the AGEDC4BASS shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 4-string bass tuned to EADG.

AGEDC4BASS : A natural octaves (3nps)

The diagrams that follows show all of the A minor scale (aeolian mode) notes plotted over the
4-string bass guitar's fretboard in the AGEDC4BASS style.

A minor scale (aeolian mode) : AGEDC4BASS fingerboard notes

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : A minor scale (aeolian mode) - note names

AGEDC4BASS A natural minor scale

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
A minor scale (aeolian mode) are detailed below in the AGEDC4BASS manner.

A minor scale (aeolian mode) : AGEDC4BASS fingerboard intervals

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : A minor scale (aeolian mode) - intervals

GuitarPro5 intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all seven box shapes for the A minor scale (aeolian mode)
in the AGEDC4BASS style for Low E tuning.


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes : pdf

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Am1Gm box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 4Gm1 box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 4Em2 box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 4Em2 box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 2Dm* box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Cm* box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Am1 box shape pdf

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Am1Gm box shape at 12 pdf


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes : YouTube videos

  • 3Am1Gm
  • 4Gm1
  • 4Em2
  • 4Em2Dm*
  • 2Dm*
  • 3Cm*
  • 3Am1
  • 3Am1Gm at 12

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 3Am1Gm box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 4Gm1 box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 4Em2 box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 4Em2Dm* box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 2Dm* box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 3Cm* box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 3Am1 box shape

GuitarPro6 A minor scale 3nps : 3Am1Gm box shape at 12

  • 3Am1Gm
  • 4Gm1
  • 4Em2
  • 4Em2Dm*
  • 2Dm*
  • 3Cm*
  • 3Am1
  • 3Am1Gm at 12

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Am1Gm box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 4Gm1 box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 4Em2 box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 4Em2Dm* box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 2Dm* box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Cm* box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Am1 box shape

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps : 3Am1Gm box shape at 12



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 - 3Am1Gm - being repeated at the 12th fret).

The video shown to the right demonstrates the AGEDC4BASS chain-linked sequence for the A minor scale 3nps box shapes.


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

GuitarPro7 TAB: AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps box shapes


The box shapes for the previous exercise follows:-

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale 3nps box shapes

AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps box shapes pdf

GuitarPro7 TAB pdf: AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps box shapesGuitarPro7 TAB pdf: AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps box shapes

AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in standard EADG tuning
A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps
Overall fretboard box shapes

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps box shapes : fretboard notes

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) 3nps box shapes : fretboard intervals


Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime
....Zon Brookes

The Korgis: Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime





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