E Major Seventh Flat Sixth Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Major Seventh Flat Sixth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, C, D#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 6m, 7M
Formula: 2W-2W-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: M7b6, ^7b6
The E Major Seventh Flat Sixth arpeggio contains 4 notes (E, G#, C, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Major Seventh Flat Sixth Arpeggio
Play the E Major Seventh Flat Sixth arpeggio whenever a E Major Seventh Flat Sixth 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 Major Seventh Flat Sixth arpeggio uses 4 notes (E, G#, C, 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 Major Seventh Flat Sixth Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate E on the E string at fret 0. Span the 4 notes (E, G#, C, 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 Major Seventh Flat Sixth arpeggio outlines a E major chord and works perfectly over E, Emaj7, E6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Play the E Major Seventh Flat Sixth 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#, C, 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 Major Seventh Flat Sixth arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (G#, C, D#) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.