Topmusicanswers
- How many bebop scales are there?
- What notes are in a bebop scale?
- What is a bebop major scale?
- How do you practice the bebop scale?
How many bebop scales are there?
There are five types of bebop scales, and each one is derived from a previous scale and simply adds a chromatic passing tone between two notes separated by a whole step.
What notes are in a bebop scale?
| Key | Bebop major |
|---|---|
| A | A - B - C# - D - E - F - F# - G# - a |
| E | E - F# - G# - A - B - C - C# - D# - e |
| B | B - C# - D# - E - F# - G - G# - A# - b |
| Gb | Gb - Ab - Bb - B - Db - D - Eb - F - gb |
What is a bebop major scale?
The bebop major scale or the major sixth diminished scale is derived from the Ionian mode (major scale) and has a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th notes. Barry Harris explains that it is derived from a major sixth chord from the root, and a fully diminished chord from the second degree.
How do you practice the bebop scale?
The most common way to use the bebop scale is over dominant 7th chords… Practice applying the bebop scale to static dominant chords. Think of the Blues, the bridge to Rhythm Changes, or any number of jazz standards with dominant chords that last for a measure or longer.
