Octave Method for Low B : 5-String Bass
Major Scales & Arpeggios


Octave Method for 5-String Bass

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eBook :


Octave Method for Low B : 5-String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 5-string bass
(Low B) based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.


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Paperbook Book :


Octave Method for Five String Bass


Fretboard navigation method for 5-string bass
(Low B) based on an instrument specific modification of the CAGED guitar method, using octave shapes rather than open position chord shapes for ease and simplicity of use.

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


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the C major scale (ionian mode) and join them all together
for 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) to form one long CAGED octaves chain.

CAGED octaves logo: 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)

The CAGED octaves sequence is shown for C natural in the diagram that follows.

CAGED octaves fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro8 fingerboard : C natural octaves

GuitarPro8: C natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all five of the CAGED octaves shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG).

C natural octave shapes

The diagram that follows shows all five of the CAGED octaves shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG).

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) : C natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all of the C major scale (ionian mode) notes plotted over the
5-string bass' fretboard in the CAGED octaves style.

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) : CAGED octaves C major scale (ionian mode)fretboard 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 scale (ionian mode) are detailed below in the CAGED octaves manner.

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) : CAGED octaves C major scale (ionian mode)fretboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the
C major scale (ionian mode) in the CAGED octaves style.


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : YouTube videos & pdf files

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5C3C* box shape pdf
5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5A3A1 box shape pdf
5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 4G1 box shape pdf
5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 4E2 box shape pdf
5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 2D* box shape pdf
5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5C3C* box shape at 12 pdf

CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : Box shapes on YouTube

  • 5C3C*
  • 5A3A1
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 2D*
  • 5C3C* at 12

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5C3C* box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5A3A1 box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 4G1 box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 4E2 box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 2D* box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5C3C* box shape at 12


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : Box shapes & TAB

  • 5C3C*
  • 5A3A1
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 2D*
  • 5C3C* at 12

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5C3C* box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5A3A1 box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 4G1 box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 4E2 box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 2D* box shape

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode): 5C3C* 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 - 6C4C1 - being repeated at the 12th fret).


The complete GuitarPro8 TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

GuitarPro8 TAB : C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes


The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes

CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode)
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro7 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED octaves 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes pdf

GuitarPro8 TAB : CAGED octaves 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes pdfGuitarPro8 TAB : CAGED octaves 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes pdf


CAGED octaves : 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG)
C major scale (ionian mode) : Overall fretboard box shapes

CAGED octaves 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes : entire fretboard notes

CAGED octaves 5-string bass (Drop A - AEADG) C major scale (ionian mode) box shapes : entire fretboard intervals


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Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
....Zon Brookes

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