Major Scale Modes and Arpeggio Inversions for Bass Guitar

This chart lays out the major scale modes and related arpeggio inversions for bass guitar. The goal is to make the connection between modes, chord tones, and fingerboard movement easier to see.

The major scale contains seven modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian. Each mode begins on a different scale degree, but they are all connected to the same parent scale. Practicing them this way can help a bassist understand how melodies, bass lines, and chord sounds relate to one another across the neck.

The arpeggio inversions are especially useful for solo bass playing because they make harmony more flexible. Instead of always starting from the root, an inversion lets the third, fifth, seventh, or another chord tone become the lowest note. This can create smoother movement between chords and help a solo bass arrangement sound less static.

Use the chart slowly and musically. Pick one key, play each mode, then connect the related arpeggio inversions in different areas of the fingerboard. Listen for how each mode feels, and pay attention to how the inversions change the weight and direction of the harmony.