B Altered Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Altered Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, D#, A, C
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-6-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: alt7
The B Altered arpeggio contains 4 notes (B, D#, A, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the B Altered Arpeggio
Play the B Altered arpeggio whenever a B Altered chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The B Altered arpeggio uses 4 notes (B, D#, A, C) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play B Altered Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate B on the A string at fret 2. Span the 4 notes (B, D#, A, C) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The B Altered arpeggio outlines a BAltered chord. Playing these 4 tones (B, D#, A, C) over the matching harmony ensures your melodic lines clearly follow the chord changes.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the B Altered arpeggio ascending and descending at 60 BPM, one note per beat, using a metronome. Once even and confident, play it in eighth notes, then triplets, keeping each note articulate. Spend at least 5 minutes daily on this before moving to musical application.
Bass Tips
Practice the B Altered arpeggio on bass using a raking technique across adjacent strings for a smooth, flowing sound. Then try the same shape with a two-finger alternating pluck for a more defined, punchy articulation.