STRINGSCALES

B♭ bebop major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, F#, G, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12

B string: C, D, Eb, F, F#, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11

High E string: F, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

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Bb bebop major

The bebop major scale inserts a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th of the major scale. With eight notes, scalar eighth-note runs keep the 6th chord tones (root, 3rd, 5th, 6th) on downbeats, the Barry Harris approach to major harmony. It is the sound of polished swing era and bebop lines over major 6th and major 7th chords.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

C

II

D

III

E♭

IV

F

V

F♯

#V

G

VI

A

VII

Same notes, different mode

Bb bebop major 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 spanish heptatonicG minor bebop

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

tip
  • Run Bb bebop major in eighth notes from any chord tone of the major 6th chord (root, III, V, VI); the added #5 (F#) passing tone keeps them on downbeats.
  • This is Barry Harris's scale of choice for major harmony: think 6th chord, not maj7, and let VI act as the top of the chord.
  • Use the b6 (Gb) (the passing tone) only in motion between VI and V; landing on it turns swing into a wrong note.
  • Harmonize the scale in 6th-chord and diminished-chord alternation up the neck for instant chord-melody movement in Bb.

How to play B♭ bebop major on guitar

With a capo at fret 1, A fingerings cover the whole key, which lets you keep open voicings in two flats. Fret 1 on the A string also holds a root, so the barre and the capo land in the same place. Three open strings belong, no root or fifth. Low E fret 6 is the lowest root, and an E shape barre sits there.

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