Perro

Scales and Arpeggios
Absolute Beginners

By J.P Dias .
Copyright © 2004-2005

To Paula

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 scalecomparison. 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 musicare 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 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 byplacing 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.

b F#/ G

b G#/ A

b A#/ B

b C #/ D

b D#/ E

F #/ G

b

b G#/ A

b A# / Bb C #/ D

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

Major Modes
C Ionian Scale

Fingering

Scale
C Ionian

Triad
C

Arpeggio
Cmaj7

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

C Ionian

C

Cmaj7

8th Fret

8th Fret

8th Fret

10

J.P. Dias’s Scales & ArpeggiosC Ionian Scale (Imaj7)
Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 11

Major Modes
D Dorian Scale

Fingering

Scale
D Dorian
5th Fret 5th Fret

Triad
Dm
5th Fret

Arpeggio
Dm7

D Dorian
10th Fret 10th Fret

Dm
10th Fret

Dm7

12

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios

D Dorian Scale (IIm7)
Exercise 1

Exercise 2Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 13

Major Modes
E Phrygian Scale

Fingering

Scale
E Phrygian
7th Fret 7th Fret

Triad
Em
7th Fret

Arpeggio
Em7

E Phrygian
12th Fret* 12th Fret*

Em
12th Fret*

Em7

*This Scale, Triad and Arpeggio could be played one 8va Lower Starting from E open String

14

J.P. Dias’s Scales & ArpeggiosE Phrygian Scale (IIIm7)
Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 15

Major Modes
F Lydian Scale

Fingering

Scale
F Lydian

Triad
F

Arpeggio
Fmaj7

8th Fret

8th Fret

8th Fret

F Lydian
(Open String)

F
(Open String)

Fmaj7
(Open String)

1st Fret

1st Fret

1st Fret

16

J.P. Dias’s Scales& Arpeggios

F Lydian Scale (IVmaj7)
Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios 17

Major Modes
G Mixolydian Scale

Fingering

Scale
G Mixolydian

Triad
G

Arpeggio
G7

10th Fret

10th Fret

10th Fret

G Mixolydian

G

G7

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

3rd Fret

18

J.P. Dias’s Scales & Arpeggios

G...