Octave Method for Low E : 4-String Bass
Major Scales & Arpeggios


CAGED4BASS eBook cover

Lulu logo

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.


Lulu logo

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 in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio (3nps) : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the C major arpeggio (3nps)
and join them all together to form one long CAGED4BASS chain.

CAGED4BASS octave shapes (3nps)

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

CAGED4BASS C natural fingerboard

guitarpro6_c_natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all seven of the CAGED4BASS shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 4-string bass tuned to EADG :-

CAGED4BASS : C natural octaves (3nps)

The diagrams that follow show all of the C major arpeggio (3nps) notes plotted over the
4-string bass guitar's fretboard in the CAGED4BASS and GuitarPro6 styles.

CAGED4BASS : C major arpeggio fingerboard notes

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : C major arpeggio (3nps)

GuitarPro6 fingerboard C major arpeggio

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 arpeggio (3nps) are detailed below in the CAGED4BASS manner:-

CAGED4BASS : C major arpeggio fingerboard intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all seven box shapes for the
C major arpeggio (3nps) in the CAGED4BASS style for Low E tuning.


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 3C* box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 3A1 box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 3A1G box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 4G1 box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 4E2 box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 4E2D* box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 2D* box shape pdf

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) : 3C* box shape at 12 pdf


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes

  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 3A1G
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 4E2D*
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 3C* box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 3A1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 3A1G box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 4G1 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 4E2 box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 4E2D* box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 2D* box shape

GuitarPro6 C major arpeggio 3nps : 3C* box shape at 12


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes

  • 3C*
  • 3A1
  • 3A1G
  • 4G1
  • 4E2
  • 4E2D*
  • 2D*
  • 3C* at 12

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 3C* box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 3A1 box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 3A1G box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 4G1 box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 4E2 box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 4E2D* box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 2D* box shape (3nps)

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) C major arpeggio : 3C* box shape at 12 (3nps)


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 C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes.


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes TAB


The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes

CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio (3nps)
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes pdf

CAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes TAB pdfCAGED4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes TAB pdf


CAGED4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
C major arpeggio (3nps)
Overall fretboard box shapes

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes : fretboard notes

CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes : fretboard intervals


CAGED4BASS C major arpeggio (3nps) box shapes

So Much Trouble In The World
....Zon Brookes

Bob Marley : So Much Trouble In The World






Return to top of page ^