F# Dominant Thirteenth Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
F# Dominant Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: F#, A#, C#, E, G#, D#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9M, 13M
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-2W-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: 13
The F# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the F# Dominant Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the F# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a F# Dominant Thirteenth 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 F# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#, 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 F# Dominant Thirteenth Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate F# on the E string at fret 2. Span the 6 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#, D#) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The F# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over F#7, F#9, F#13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Play the F# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on F#. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 6 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#, 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 F# Dominant Thirteenth arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (A#, C#, E, G#, D#) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.