B Suspended Fourth Seventh Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Suspended Fourth Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, E, F#, A
Intervals: 1P, 4P, 5P, 7m
Formula: 5-W-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: 7sus4, 7sus
The B Suspended Fourth Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (B, E, F#, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the B Suspended Fourth Seventh Arpeggio
Play the B Suspended Fourth Seventh arpeggio whenever a B Suspended Fourth Seventh 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 Suspended Fourth Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (B, E, F#, A) 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 Suspended Fourth Seventh Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate B on the A string at fret 2. Span the 4 notes (B, E, F#, A) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The B Suspended Fourth Seventh arpeggio avoids the third, creating an open, unresolved sound. It works over Bsus4, Bsus2, B7sus4 voicings and is perfect for creating a modern, ambiguous harmonic feel that neither commits to major nor minor.
Practice Routine
Practice the B Suspended Fourth Seventh arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the E an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 4P, 5P, 7m) in any register.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the B Suspended Fourth Seventh arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (E, F#, A) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.