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


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) : General

In this BLOGoZON we take a look at the A minor scale (aeolian mode)
and join them all together to form one long AGEDC4BASS chain.

AGEDC4BASS logo

Hence the AGEDC4BASS sequence is shown for A natural in the diagram that follows:-

AGEDC4BASS A natural octaves fingerboard

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : A natural octaves

GuitarPro6 A natural octaves

The diagram that follows shows all five of the AGEDC4BASS shapes for use with the
box shapes for a 4-string bass tuned to EADG :-

AGEDC4BASS: A natural octaves

AGEDC4BASS : A natural octaves

The diagrams that follows show all of the A minor scale (aeolian mode) notes plotted over the
4-string bass guitar's fretboard in the AGEDC4BASS style.

A minor scale (aeolian mode) : AGEDC4BASS fingerboard notes

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : A minor scale (aeolian mode) - note names

AGEDC4BASS A natural minor 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
A minor scale (aeolian mode) are detailed below in the AGEDC4BASS manner.

A minor scale (aeolian mode) : AGEDC4BASS fingerboard intervals

GuitarPro6 fingerboard : A minor scale (aeolian mode) - intervals

GuitarPro5 intervals

The tables and tabbed panels below detail all five box shapes for the A minor scale (aeolian mode)
in the AGEDC4BASS style for Low E tuning.


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes

YouTube icon

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 3Am1 box shape
AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 4Gm1 box shape
AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 4Em2 box shape
AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 2Dm* box shape
AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 3Cm* box shape
AGEDC4BASS A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 3Am1 box shape at 12

AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes

  • 3Am1
  • 4Gm1
  • 4Em1
  • 2Dm*
  • 3Cm*
  • 3Am1 at 12

GuitarPro6 3Am1 box shape

GuitarPro6 4Gm1 box shape

GuitarPro6 4Em2 box shape

GuitarPro6 2Dm* box shape

GuitarPro6 3Cm* box shape

GuitarPro6 3Am1 box shape at 12


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes

  • 3Am1
  • 4Gm1
  • 4Em1
  • 2Dm*
  • 3Cm*
  • 3Am1 at 12

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 3Am1 box shape

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 4Gm1 box shape

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 4Em1 box shape

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 2Dm* box shape

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 3Cm* box shape

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) A minor scale (aeolian mode) : 3Am1 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 - 3Am1 - being repeated at the 12th fret).

The video shown to the right demonstrates the AGEDC4BASS chain-linked sequence for the A minor scale box shapes.


The complete TAB for the previous exercise follows:-

GuitarPro7 TAB : A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes


The box shapes for the previous exercise follow:-

A minor scale box shapes

AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode)
Box shapes pdf & GuitarPro6 TAB pdf

Flash iconGuitar Pro 6 icon

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes pdf

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes TAB pdfAGEDC4BASS (4-string bass : Low E) - A minor scale (aeolian mode) box shapes TAB pdf


AGEDC4BASS : 4-string bass in Low E (EADG tuning)
A minor scale (aeolian mode) : Overall fretboard box shapes

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass: Low E) fingerboard A minor scale (aeolian mode) notes pdf

AGEDC4BASS (4-string bass: Low E) fingerboard A minor scale (aeolian mode) intervals pdf


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