STRINGSCALES

A bebop minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, A, B, C, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C, C#, D, E, F#, G, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C, C#, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

B string: B, C, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B at frets 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G, A, B, C, C#, D, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12

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A bebop minor

The bebop minor scale adds a major 3rd as a chromatic passing tone to the dorian mode, eight notes in all. The extra half step keeps chord tones on strong beats through a ii chord vamp, and momentarily brightens the minor sound in passing. It pairs with the dominant bebop scale for seamless minor ii-V lines.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

C

bIII

C♯

III

D

IV

E

V

F♯

VI

G

bVII

Same notes, different mode

A bebop minor uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

D bebopF# bebop locrianG ichikosucho

bebop minor in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Over the ii chord in a minor or major ii-V, run A bebop minor in eighths; the added major 3rd (C#) passing tone keeps the dorian chord tones on strong beats.
  • Pivot on the double 3rd: bIII (C) on the beat, III in passing, which is the sound of bebop language over minor chords.
  • Pair it with the dominant bebop scale a 4th up for a seamless ii-V line in one position.
  • When the line stops moving, park on the 6th (F#); it keeps the dorian brightness the scale is built on.

How to play A bebop minor on guitar

Open A gives the root and both E strings the fifth, so a root-fifth drone runs across three strings untouched. Every open string is in this key, which means nothing has to be damped while a line moves. Two sharps here. Aside from the open A, fret 2 on the G string sits closest to the nut, while fret 5 on the low E is deepest, so the E-shape barre lives there.

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