Harmonic & Melodic Minor Modes & Arpeggios for Bass Guitar
Harmonic Minor (click for full page pdf) 
***Also see Major Modes and Arpeggio Inversions ***
This chart covers harmonic minor and melodic minor modes with related arpeggios for bass guitar. These sounds are useful when you want harmony that goes beyond the major scale modes and creates more tension, color, and movement.
Harmonic minor is often associated with a darker sound and a strong pull toward resolution, especially because of the raised seventh scale degree. On bass, that tension can be very expressive in solo pieces, minor-key progressions, and lines that need a more dramatic harmonic shape.
Melodic minor opens up a different set of colors. Its modes are commonly used for altered dominant sounds, minor-major harmony, Lydian dominant sounds, and other modern chord colors. For solo bassists, these scales and arpeggios can help create richer harmonic movement without needing another instrument to fill in the chords.
Use the chart as a way to connect scale sounds to playable musical ideas. Practice each mode slowly, then work through the related arpeggios and listen for the notes that define the sound. The goal is not just to memorize patterns, but to make these minor-scale colors available for composition, improvisation, and solo bass arrangements.
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