STRINGSCALES

B♭ bebop minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

A string: Bb, C, Db, D, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, D, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

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Bb 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:

B♭

I

C

II

D♭

bIII

D

III

E♭

IV

F

V

G

VI

A♭

bVII

Same notes, different mode

Bb 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.

Eb bebopG bebop locrianAb 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 Bb bebop minor in eighths; the added major 3rd (D) passing tone keeps the dorian chord tones on strong beats.
  • Pivot on the double 3rd: bIII (Db) 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 (G); it keeps the dorian brightness the scale is built on.

How to play B♭ bebop minor on guitar

A-shape barre chords sit at fret 1, so a full barre for this key is available right at the nut. One fret of capo and the open A shapes become this key, which lets first-position fingerings do all the work. Open D and G are in the scale as the third and sixth, so neither will carry a pedal. Deepest root: fret 6, low E.

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