As Many C#/Db Arpeggios As I Can Think Of Bass Tabs

This tab illustrates as many C#/Db arpeggios as I can think of.
before I start I would like to say that i like to use both C# and Db.
When i think of major chords i think of the root as Db.
When i think of minor chords i think f the root as C#.
You'll see some exceptions to this in the tab.

(the notes in ()'s are other places where you can play that note)

Db major
Intervals: 1,3,5

 |Db F  Ab Db |Db F  Ab Db |Db F  Ab Db |Db F  Ab Db |
G|—————————6——|—————————6——|————————————|—————————18—|
D|——————6—————|———3——6—————|—————————11—|———15—18————|
A|———8————————|4—(8)———————|———8——11————|16(20)——————|
E|9———————————|————————————|9—(13)——————|————————————|

C# minor
Intervals: 1,b3,5

 |C# E  G# C# |C# E  G# C# |C# E  G# C# |C# E  G# C# |
G|—————————6——|—————————6——|————————————|—————————18—|
D|——————6—————|———2——6—————|—————————11—|———14—18————|
A|———7————————|4—(7)———————|———7——11————|16(19)——————|
E|9———————————|————————————|9—(12)——————|————————————|

C# diminished
Intervals: 1,b3,b5

 |C# E  G  C# |C# E  G  C# |C# E  G  C# |
G|—————————6——|————————————|—————————18—|
D|——————5—————|—————————11—|——————17————|
A|4——7————————|——————10————|16—19———————|
E|————————————|9——12———————|————————————|

Db Augmented
Intervals: 1,3,#5

 |Db F  A  Db |Db F  A  Db |Db F  A  Db |
G|—————————6——|————————————|—————————18—|
D|——————7—————|—————————11—|——————19————|
A|———8————————|——————12————|16—20———————|
E|9———————————|9——13———————|————————————|

Db major 7
Intervals: 1,3,5,7

 |Db F  Ab C  |Db F  Ab C  |Db F  Ab C  |
G|—————————5——|————————————|—————————17—|
D|———3——6—————|—————————10—|———15—18————|
A|4—(8)———————|———8——11————|16(20)——————|
E|————————————|9—(13)——————|————————————|

C# minor 7
Intervals: 1,b3,5,b7

 |C# E  G# B  |C# E  G# B  |C# E  G# B  |
G|—————————4——|————————————|—————————16—|
D|——(2)—6—————|—————————9——|———14—18————|
A|4——7————————|——(7)—11————|16(19)——————|
E|————————————|9——12———————|————————————|

Db domainant 7 (also known as just "C#7")
Intervals: 1,3,5,b7

 |Db F  Ab Cb |Db F  Ab Cb |Db F  Ab Cb |
G|—————————4——|————————————|—————————16—|
D|———3——6—————|—————————9——|———15—18————|
A|4———————————|———8——11————|16——————————|
E|————————————|9———————————|————————————|

(Cb is the same note a B)
(You can think of this as C#7 or Db7...they both suck)
(If it was C#7 it would be: C#,E#,G#,B)

C# minor/major 7
Intervals: 1,b3,5,7

 |C# E  G# B# |C# E  G# B# |C# E  G# B# |
G|—————————5——|————————————|—————————17—|
D|———2——6—————|—————————10—|———14—18————|
A|4—(7)———————|———7——11————|16——————————|
E|————————————|9—(12)——————|————————————|

(B# is the same note as C)
(If Db was the root, it would be: Db,Fb,Ab,C)

C# half diminished 7
Intervals: 1,b3,b5,b7

 |C# E  G  B  |C# E  G  B  |C# E  G  B  |
G|—————————4——|————————————|—————————16—|
D|——————5—————|—————————9——|——————17————|
A|4——7————————|——————10————|16—19———————|
E|————————————|9——12———————|————————————|

C# fully diminished 7
Intervals: 1,b3,b5,bb7

 |C# E  G  Bb |C# E  G  Bb |C# E  G  Bb |
G|—————————3——|————————————|————————(15)|
D|———2——5—(8)—|—————————(8)|——(14)17—20—|
A|4—(7)———————|——(7)—10—13—|16—19———————|
E|————————————|9——12———————|————————————|

Db augmented 7
Intervals: 1,3,#5,b7

 |Db F  A  Cb |Db F  A  Cb |Db F  A  Cb |
G|————————————|——————2——4——|——————14—16—|
D|——————7——9——|———3————————|———15———————|
A|———8————————|4———————————|16——————————|
E|9———————————|————————————|————————————|

Now that we've cover all the basic triads and most of the basic 7th chords,
Let's look at sus/ add chords

Db sus 4
Intervals: 1,4,5

 |Db Gb Ab Db |Db Gb Ab Db |Db Gb Ab Db |
G|————————————|—————————6——|—————————18—|
D|—————————11—|———4——6—————|———16—18————|
A|———9——11————|4———————————|16——————————|
E|9———————————|————————————|————————————|

Db major (add 2)
Intervals: 1,2,3,5

 |Db Eb F  Ab |Db Eb F  Ab |Db Eb F  Ab |
G|————————————|————————————|————————————|
D|————————————|——————3——6——|——————15—18—|
A|——————8——11—|4——6—(8)————|16—18(20)———|
E|9——11(13)———|————————————|————————————|

Db major 6
Intervals: 1,3,5,6

 |Db F  Ab Bb |Db F  Ab Bb |Db F  Ab Bb |
G|————————————|—————————3——|—————————15—|
D|—————————8——|———3——6—(8)—|———15—18(20)|
A|———8——11(13)|4—(8)———————|16(20)——————|
E|9—(13)——————|————————————|————————————|

You Can do the same thing with minor chords.

Now we're going to take a bunch of modes and stack them in 3rds.
This will give us upper extensions:

2 = 9
4 = 11
6 = 13

For the sake of my own sanity i'm not going to write out every possible combination.
there are literally hundreds!
If you want to figure them out, go right ahead.

Db Lydian Scale (1,2,3,#4,5,6,7)

Db Major 7 (9,#11,13)

 |Db F  Ab C  Eb G  Bb |
G|——————————————(12)15—|
D|————————(10)13—17————|
A|——(8)—11—15——————————|
E|9——13————————————————|

C# Dorian Scale (1,2,b3,4,5,6,b7)
 
C# Minor 7 (9,11,13)

 |C# E  G# B  D# F# A# |
G|——————————————————15—|
D|————————————13—16————|
A|——————11—14——————————|
E|9——12————————————————|

Db Lydian Dominant Scale (1,2,3,#4,5,6,b7)

Db7 (9,#11,13)

 |Db F  Ab Cb Eb G  Bb |
G|——————————————————15—|
D|————————————13—17————|
A|——————11—14——————————|
E|9——13————————————————|

etc...

now that you see how this formula works,
you can apply this to other scales you know.

It's very important to decide what enharmonic note to use.
Sometimes it's easier to picture something as Db.
Sometimes it's easier to picture something as C#.
You be the judge.

There are alot of different kinds of C#/Db chords and many ways to play them.
I encourage you to find other types of chords and other ways to play them.
There are so many that i didn't list.
However, this will act as a guide to help you find other chords/fingerings.

I didn't bother with inversions,
but if you want to mess around with that,
all you have to do is start on a different chord tone.
Mess around with that, it's alot of fun!

please give me constrictive criticism.
—Connor Larkin

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Bass Lessons — As Many C#/Db Arpeggios As I Can Think Of bass tabs