C Altered Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Altered Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, E, Bb, Db
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-6-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: alt7
The C Altered arpeggio contains 4 notes (C, E, Bb, Db). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Altered Arpeggio
Play the C Altered arpeggio whenever a C 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 C Altered arpeggio uses 4 notes (C, E, Bb, Db) 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 C Altered Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate C on the A string at fret 3. Span the 4 notes (C, E, Bb, Db) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The C Altered arpeggio outlines a CAltered chord. Playing these 4 tones (C, E, Bb, Db) over the matching harmony ensures your melodic lines clearly follow the chord changes.
Practice Routine
Play the C Altered arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on C. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 4 notes (C, E, Bb, Db). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the C Altered arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (E, Bb, Db) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.