Scales and Arpeggios Absolute Beginners By J.P. Dias opyright 2004-2005
To Paula
ontents Introduction...8 1. Basic of Reading Music...9 2. Major Modes...10 4. Minor Scales...24 3. Pentatonic Scales...30 5. Symmetrical Diminished...32 6. Triads...37 7. Arpeggios...38
Introduction The purpose of this book is to help beginner bassist to find the easiest way to play scales, triads and arpeggios. All the examples are written in the key of in order to make easer the scale comparison. Most scales can be played in more than two positions, so that I would suggest to find all possible roots and play the same fingering showed, also play them in different keys. This book is not intended to be a method and I strongly recommend to find a qualified teacher to help you assimilate the information on this book. Have Fun 8
Basics of Reading Music The fundamentals of music are pitch and rhythm which are placed in a grid of five lines and four spaces called Staff. Bass Players Read Bass lef. The symbol of the Bass lef is derived from the old German way of writing F. The two dots on the right of the bass clef symbol surround the line on which F pitch is written. The notes above are all natural however any of this notes can be raised or lowered a half step by placing a accidental, sharp ( ) or flat ( ) right before it. When an accidental occurs, it applies to the whole measure unless it is cancelled out with another accidental. Sharp ( ) Raises a note one half step. Flat ( ) Lowers a notes one half step. Natural ( ) ancells an accidental previously used. F / G G / A A / B / D D / E F / G G / A A / B / D Note: The distance between B and and E and F is a half step, that s way there's no or in between those notes. 9
Major Modes Ionian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio Ionian maj7 Ionian maj7 10
Ionian Scale (Imaj7) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 11
Major Modes D Dorian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio D Dorian Dm Dm7 5th Fret 5th Fret 5th Fret D Dorian Dm Dm7 10th Fret 10th Fret 10th Fret 12
D Dorian Scale (IIm7) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 13
Major Modes E Phrygian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio E Phrygian Em Em7 7th Fret 7th Fret 7th Fret E Phrygian Em Em7 12th Fret* 12th Fret* 12th Fret* va *This Scale, Triad and Arpeggio could be played one 8 Lower Starting from E open String 14
E Phrygian Scale (IIIm7) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 15
Major Modes F Lydian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio F Lydian F Fmaj7 F Lydian F Fmaj7 (Open String) (Open String) (Open String) 1st Fret 1st Fret 1st Fret 16
F Lydian Scale (IVmaj7) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 17
Major Modes G Mixolydian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio G Mixolydian G G7 10th Fret 10th Fret 10th Fret G Mixolydian G G7 18
G Mixolydian Scale (V7) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 19
Major Modes A Aeolian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio A Aeolian Am Am7 12th Fret 12th Fret 12th Fret A Aeolian Am Am7 5th Fret 5th Fret 5th Fret 20
A Aeolian Scale (VIm7) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 21
Major Modes B Locrian Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio B Locrian B Bm7 b5 14th Fret 14th Fret 14th Fret B Locrian B Bm7 b5 7th Fret 7th Fret 7th Fret 22
b5 B Locrian Scale (VIIm7 ) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 23
Minor Scales Natural Minor Scale Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio Natural Minor m m7 Natural Minor m m7 24
Natural Minor (Aeolian Scale) Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 25
Minor Scales ont. Harmonic Minor Scale Fingering Scale Harmonic Minor Triad m Arpeggio m(maj7) Harmonic Minor m m(maj7) 26
Harmonic Minor Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 27
Minor Scales ont. Melodic Minor Scale Ascending Descending Fingering Scale Triad Melodic Minor Ascending Melodic Minor Descending m Melodic Minor Ascending Melodic Minor Descending m 28
Melodic Minor Exercise 1a Exercise 1b Exercise 2a Exercise 2b Exercise 3 29
( ) ( ) Pentatonic Scales Major Pentatonic Minor Pentatonic Blues Scale ( ) Fingering Major Pentatonic Minor Pentatonic Blues Scale Major Pentatonic Played on 4 strings Minor Pentatonic Played on 4 strings Blues Scale Played on 4 strings 30
Pentatonic Scales ont. Exercise 1 Major Pentatonic Exercise 2 Major Pentatonic Exercise 3 Major Pentatonic Exercise 4 Minor Pentatonic Exercise 5 Blues Scale 31
Symetrical Diminished Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step 7 Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step 7 32
Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 33
Symetrical Diminished Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step Fingering Scale Triad Arpeggio Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step 7 Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step 7 34
Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 35
Triads m + sus 37
Arpeggios 38
Arpeggios ont. maj7 +7 m(maj7) 7 m7(b5) 7 +maj7 m7 sus7 39
Arpeggios ont. 6 m6 40