E Dominant Seventh Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Dominant Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m
Formula: 2W-WH-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: 7, dom
The E Dominant Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (E, G#, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Dominant Seventh Arpeggio
Play the E Dominant Seventh arpeggio whenever a E Dominant 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 E Dominant Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (E, G#, B, D) 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 Dominant Seventh Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate E on the E string at fret 0. Span the 4 notes (E, G#, B, D) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The E Dominant Seventh arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over E7, E9, E13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Play the E Dominant Seventh arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on E. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 4 notes (E, G#, B, D). 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 E Dominant Seventh arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (G#, B, D) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.