E Altered Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Altered Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, D, F
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-6-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: alt7
The E Altered arpeggio contains 4 notes (E, G#, D, F). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Altered Arpeggio
Play the E Altered arpeggio whenever a E 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 E Altered arpeggio uses 4 notes (E, G#, D, F) 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 E Altered Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate E on the E string at fret 0. Span the 4 notes (E, G#, D, F) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The E Altered arpeggio outlines a EAltered chord. Playing these 4 tones (E, G#, D, F) over the matching harmony ensures your melodic lines clearly follow the chord changes.
Practice Routine
Practice the E Altered arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the G# an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3M, 7m, 9m) in any register.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the E Altered arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (G#, D, F) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.