Scales and Arpeggios

To Paula

Absolute Beginners

By J.P. Dias
Copyright © 2004-2005
Contents
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 C 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 Major Modes

C Ionian Scale

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 Clef. The symbol of the Bass Clef is derived Fingering
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.

Scale Triad Arpeggio

C Ionian C Cmaj7

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

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 (b) 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 (b) Lowers a notes one half step.

Natural (n) Cancells an accidental previously used.

C Ionian C Cmaj7

b b b b b b b b b
F#/ G G#/ A A#/ B C #/ D D#/ E F #/ G G#/ A A# / B C #/ D 8th Fret 8th Fret 8th Fret

Note: The distance between B and C and E and F is a half step, that’s way there's no # or b
in between those notes.

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 9 10 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
C Ionian Scale (Imaj7) Major Modes
Exercise 1
D Dorian Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

D Dorian Dm Dm7

5th Fret 5th Fret

Exercise 3
5th Fret

Exercise 4

D Dorian Dm Dm7

10th Fret 10th Fret

10th Fret
Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 11 12 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
D Dorian Scale (IIm7) Major Modes
Exercise 1
E Phrygian Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

E Phrygian Em Em7

7th Fret 7th Fret 7th Fret

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

E Phrygian Em Em7

12th Fret* 12th Fret* 12th Fret*

Exercise 5

va
*This Scale, Triad and Arpeggio could be played one 8 Lower Starting from E open String
J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 13 14 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
E Phrygian Scale (IIIm7) Major Modes
Exercise 1
F Lydian Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

F Lydian F Fmaj7

Exercise 3

8th Fret 8th Fret 8th Fret

Exercise 4

F Lydian F Fmaj7

(Open String) (Open String) (Open String)

Exercise 5
1st Fret 1st Fret 1st Fret

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 15 16 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
F Lydian Scale (IVmaj7) Major Modes
Exercise 1
G Mixolydian Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

G Mixolydian G G7

Exercise 3

10th Fret 10th Fret 10th Fret

Exercise 4

G Mixolydian G G7

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 17 18 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
G Mixolydian Scale (V7) Major Modes
Exercise 1
A Aeolian Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

A Aeolian Am Am7

12th Fret 12th Fret 12th Fret

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

A Aeolian Am Am7

5th Fret 5th Fret 5th Fret

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 19 20 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
A Aeolian Scale (VIm7) Major Modes
Exercise 1
B Locrian Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

B Locrian B° Bm7 b5
14th Fret 14th Fret 14th Fret
Exercise 3

Exercise 4

B Locrian B° Bm7 b5

7th Fret 7th Fret 7th Fret

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 21 22 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
 b5
B Locrian Scale (VIIm7 ) Minor Scales
Exercise 1
C Natural Minor Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

C Natural Minor Cm Cm7

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

C Natural Minor Cm Cm7

8th Fret 8th Fret 8th Fret

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 23 24 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
C Natural Minor (Aeolian Scale) Minor Scales Cont.
Exercise 1
C Harmonic Minor Scale

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

C Harmonic
Minor Cm Cm(maj7)

3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

C Harmonic
Minor Cm Cm(maj7)

8th Fret 8th Fret 8th Fret

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 25 26 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
C Harmonic Minor Minor Scales Cont.
Exercise 1 C Melodic Minor Scale
Ascending Descending

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad
C Melodic Minor C Melodic Minor
Ascending Descending Cm

3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Exercise 3
3rd Fret

Exercise 4

C Melodic Minor C Melodic Minor

Ascending Descending Cm

8th Fret 8th Fret

8th Fret
Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 27 28 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
C Melodic Minor Pentatonic Scales
Exercise 1a

C Major Pentatonic C Minor Pentatonic C Blues Scale

( )
Fingering

Exercise 1b

C Major Pentatonic C Minor Pentatonic C Blues Scale

3rd Fret 3rd Fret

Exercise 2a

)
3rd Fret

(
Exercise 2b

C Major Pentatonic C Minor Pentatonic C Blues Scale

Played on 4 strings Played on 4 strings Played on 4 strings

8th Fret 8th Fret

)
Exercise 3
8th Fret

(
J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 29 30 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
Pentatonic Scales Cont. Symetrical Diminished
Exercise 1 C Major Pentatonic
C Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step

Fingering

Exercise 2 C Major Pentatonic

Scale Triad Arpeggio

C Symmetrical Diminished
Whole/Half Step C° C°7
3rd Fret 3rd Fret 3rd Fret
Exercise 3 C Major Pentatonic

Exercise 4 C Minor Pentatonic

C Symmetrical Diminished
Whole/Half Step C° C°7
8th Fret 8th Fret 8th Fret

Exercise 5 C Blues Scale

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 31 32 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
C Symmetrical Diminished Whole/Half Step Symetrical Diminished
Exercise 1
C Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step

Fingering

Exercise 2

Scale Triad Arpeggio

C Symmetrical Diminished
Half/Whole Step C° C°7
3rd Fret 3rd Fret
Exercise 3
3rd Fret

Exercise 4

C Symmetrical Diminished
Half/Whole Step C° C°7

8th Fret 8th Fret

8th Fret
Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 33 34 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios
C Symmetrical Diminished Half/Whole Step Triads
Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

C Cm C°

Exercise 4

C+ Csus

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 35 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 37
 Arpeggios Arpeggios Cont.
Cmaj7 C+7 Cm(maj7)

3rd Fret
3rd Fret
3rd Fret

C7 Cm7(b5) C°7

3rd Fret

3rd Fret
3rd Fret

Cm7 Csus7
C+maj7

3rd Fret

3rd Fret
3rd Fret

38 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 39
 Arpeggios Cont.
C6 Cm6

3rd Fret
3rd Fret

40 J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios