STRINGSCALES

C bebop minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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C 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:

C

I

D

II

E♭

bIII

E

III

F

IV

G

V

A

VI

B♭

bVII

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

F bebopA bebop locrianBb 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 C bebop minor in eighths; the added major 3rd (E) passing tone keeps the dorian chord tones on strong beats.
  • Pivot on the double 3rd: bIII (Eb) 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 (A); it keeps the dorian brightness the scale is built on.

How to play C bebop minor on guitar

Open G supplies the fifth here, so a droned bass under fretted melody needs no extra hand. Five of the six open strings sit in this key, with only the B string outside it, which lets ringing shapes stay wide open. Closest to the nut: fret 1, B string. Lowest in pitch, though, is the low E root at fret 8, where the E-shape barre also lands. F bebop five semitones up traces the identical fingering, so the shape transfers without relearning.

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