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


Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless

Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass

Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass

Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass

Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass

Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass

Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in standard EADG tuning
B locrian mode : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the B locrian mode box shapes and join them all together to form one long CAGED4BASS chain.

CAGED4BASS logo

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

CAGED4BASS B natural octaves shapes

GuitarPro6 B natural octaves

The diagrams that follow show all of the B locrian mode notes plotted over the 4-string bass's

fretboard in both the Guitar Pro and CAGED4BASS styles:-

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode fingerboard notes

As always a more long term solution to fretboard navigation is to see arpeggios 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 B locrian mode are detailed below in the
GEDCA4BASS manner:-

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode fingerboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the B locrian mode in the CAGED4BASS style.


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in standard EADG tuning
B locrian mode : Box shape pdf files

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Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 3C* box shape pdf
CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 3A1 box shape pdf
CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 4G1 box shape pdf
CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 4E2 box shape pdf
CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 2D* box shape pdf
CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 3C* box shape at 12 pdf

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in standard EADG tuning
B locrian mode : YouTube box shapes

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

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode 3C* box shape

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode 3A1 box shape

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode 4G1 box shape

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode 4E2 box shape

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode 2D* box shape

GuitarPro6 B locrian mode 3C* box shape at 12


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in standard EADG tuning
B locrian mode : Box shapes & TAB

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

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 3C* box shape

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 3A1 box shape

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 4G1 box shape

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 4E2 box shape

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode 2D* box shape

CAGED4BASS B locrian 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 B locrian mode box shapes.


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

B locrian mode box shapes TAB


The box shapes for the previous exercise follows:-

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode box shapes

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode box shapes pdf

B locrian mode box shapes TAB pdfB locrian mode box shapes TAB pdf


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in standard EADG tuning
B locrian mode : Overall fretboard box shapes

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode fingerboard box shape notes pdf

CAGED4BASS B locrian mode fingerboard box shape intervals pdf


Rob Allen Mouse Maple 30 fretless four string bass

Love took control of me
....Zon Brookes

Love T.K.O.


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