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


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass (Low E - EADG)
C pentatonic major scale - 3131 sweeps : General

In BLOGoZON No.578 the pseudo 3nps box shapes for the C pentatonic major scale
were presented using the CAGED4BASS methodology for 4-string bass (Low E - EADG).

CAGED4BASS logo


In this BLOGoZON we look at the C pentatonic major scale, again, but with 3131 sweep patterns
and join them all together to form one long CAGED4BASS chain.

The diagram that follows shows all five of the CAGED4BASS shapes for use with the
3131 sweep patterns for a 4-string bass (Low E - EADG).

C natural octaves (pseudo 3nps)

The conjoined CAGED4BASS sequence is shown for C natural in the diagram that follows.

CAGED4BASS C natural fingerboard

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : C natural octaves

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 (Low E - EADG).

CAGED4BASS octave shapes

The diagram that follows shows all five of the CAGED4BASS shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 4-string bass (Low E - EADG).

CAGED4BASS : C natural octaves

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

C pentatonic major scale : CAGED4BASS fingerboard notes

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : C pentatonic major scale

GuitarPro6 fingerboard :  C pentatonic major 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
C pentatonic major scale are detailed below in the CAGED4BASS manner:-

CAGED4BASS fingerboard intervals : C pentatonic major scale

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the C pentatonic major scale
in the CAGED4BASS style for 4-string bass (Low E - EADG).


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass (Low E - EADG)
C pentatonic major scale - 3131 sweeps
YouTube videos & pdf files

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Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic mmajor scale : 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern) pdf
CAGED4BASS C pentatonic mmajor scale : 3A1:4G1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern) pdf
CAGED4BASS C pentatonic mmajor scale : 4G1:4E2 box shape (3131 sweep pattern) pdf
CAGED4BASS C pentatonic mmajor scale : 4E2:2D* box shape (3131 sweep pattern) pdf
CAGED4BASS C pentatonic mmajor scale : 2D*:3C* box shape (3131 sweep pattern) pdf
CAGED4BASS C pentatonic mmajor scale : 3C*:3A1 box shape at 12 (3131 sweep pattern) pdf

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass (Low E - EADG)
C pentatonic major scale - 3131 sweeps : YouTube videos

  • 3C*:3A1

  • 3A1:4G1

  • 4G1:4E2

  • 4E2:2D*

  • 2D*:3C*

  • 3C*:3A1 at 12

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale - 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern)

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale - 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern)

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale - 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern)

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale - 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern)

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale - 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern)

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale - 3C*:3A1 box shape (3131 sweep pattern)


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass (Low E - EADG)
C pentatonic major scale - 3131 sweeps : Box shapes & TAB

  • 3C*:3A1

  • 3A1:4G1

  • 4G1:4E2

  • 4E2:2D*

  • 2D*:3C*

  • 3C*:3A1 at 12

CAGED4BASS A pentatonic minor scale - 3C*:3A1 (3131 sweep pattern) box shape

CAGED4BASS A pentatonic minor scale - 3A1:4G1 (3131 sweep pattern) box shape

CAGED4BASS A pentatonic minor scale - 4G1:4E2 (3131 sweep pattern) box shape

CAGED4BASS A pentatonic minor scale - 4E2:2D* (3131 sweep pattern) box shape

CAGED4BASS A pentatonic minor scale - 2D*:3C* (3131 sweep pattern) box shape

CAGED4BASS A pentatonic minor scale - 3C*:3A1 (3131 sweep pattern) box shape


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*:3A1 - being repeated at the 12th fret).

The complete TAB for the previously described exercise follows:-

GuitarPro7 TAB: C pentatonic major scale (3131 sweep pattern) box shapes


The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic minor scale (3131 sweep pattern) box shapes

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass (Low E - EADG)
C pentatonic major scale - 3131 sweeps
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro7 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale (3131 sweep patterns) box shapes pdf

GuitarPro7 TAB: CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale (3131 sweep patterns) box shapes pdfGuitarPro7 TAB: CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale (3131 sweep patterns) box shapes pdf


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass (Low E - EADG)
C pentatonic major scale - 3131 sweeps
Overall fretboard box shapes

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale (3131 sweep patterns) box shapes : entire fretboard notes

CAGED4BASS C pentatonic major scale (3131 sweep patterns) box shapes : entire fretboard notes


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