Octave Method for 6-String Bass (Low B)
Major Scales & Arpeggios


Lulu eBook: 6-string bass (Low B)

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eBook :


Octave Method for Six String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 6-string bass
(Low B) 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 :


Octave Method for Low B : 6-String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 6-String Bass
(Low B) 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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Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim

Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim

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Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim

Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim

Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim

Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim

Dingwall ABZ 4/3 Faded Blue Denim


BCAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Low B)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps : General

In BLOGoZON No.488 the box shapes for the C major scale (ionian mode) were presented
using the BCAGED octaves methodology for 6-string bass (Low B).

In this BLOGoZON we again look at the C major scale (ionian mode), but with 3nps shapes and
join them all together to form one long BCAGED octaves 3nps chain.

BCAGED octaves logo: 6-string bass (Low B)

The diagram that follows shows all seven of the BCAGED octaves shapes for use with
the three notes per string patterns for a 6-string bass (Low B).

BCAGED octaves 3nps logo

The conjoined BCAGED octaves sequence is shown for C natural in the diagram that follows:-

BCAGED octaves fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro6 C natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all seven of the BCAGED octaves shapes
for use with the 3nps box shapes for a 6-string bass (Low B) :-

6-String Bass (Low B) : C natural octaves

The diagrams that follow show all of the C major scale (ionian mode) notes plotted over the
6-string bass' fretboard in the BCAGED octaves and GuitarPro6 styles:-

BCAGED octaves fingerboard C major scale (ionian mode) notes

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : C major scale (ionian mode)

GuitarPro6 C 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 major scale (ionian mode) are detailed below in the BCAGED octaves manner:-

BCAGED octaves fingerboard C major scale (ionian mode) intervals

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


BCAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Low B)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps : box shapes pdf

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6B4C1 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6B4A2 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 4A2 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5G2 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5E3 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5E3D1 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6D3D1 box shape 3nps pdf

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6B4C1 box shape 3nps pdf


BCAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Low B)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps : YouTube videos

  • 6B4C1
  • 6B4A2
  • 4A2
  • 5G2
  • 5E3
  • 5E3D1
  • 6D3D1
  • 6B4C1 at 12

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 6B4C1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 6B4A2 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 4A2 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 5G2 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 5E3 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 5E3D1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 6D3D1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major scale 3nps : 6B4C1 box shape at 12


  • 6B4C1
  • 6B4A2
  • 4A2
  • 5G2
  • 5E3
  • 5E3D1
  • 6D3D1
  • 6B4C1 at 12

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6B4C1 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6B4A2 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 4A2 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5G2 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5E3 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 5E3D1 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6D3D1 box shape (3nps)

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) : 6B4C1 box shape at 12 (3nps)



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 - 6B4C1 - being repeated at the 12th fret).

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


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

6-string bass (Low B) C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes : GuitarPro7 TAB


The box shapes for the previous exercise follows:-

BCAGED octaves C major scale 3nps box shapes

BCAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Low B)
C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

BCAGED octaves C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes pdf

BCAGED octaves C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes : GuitarPro7 TAB pdfBCAGED octaves C major scale (ionian mode) 3nps box shapes : GuitarPro7 TAB pdf

BCAGED octaves : 6-string bass (Low B)
C major scale : Overall fretboard box shapes

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

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


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