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A bebop melodic minor scale on bass guitar
A bebop melodic minor contains A, B, C, D, E, F, F♯, and G♯. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 5 and string 1, fret 2.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the A bebop melodic minor scale on bass?
A bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A on the G string at fret 2. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 2 | E, F, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 0, 2, 3 | A, B, C |
| 2 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 1 (G) | 1, 2 | G♯, A |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 12 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (A) | 2, 3, 5 | B, C, D |
| 2 (D) | 2, 3, 4 | E, F, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 4, 5 | A, B, C |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the E string at fret 5 and the D string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 7, 8 | A, B, C |
| 3 (A) | 5, 7, 8 | D, E, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 7 | G♯, A |
| 1 (G) | 5, 7 | C, D |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 12 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to F on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
| 3 (A) | 7, 8, 9 | E, F, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9, 10 | A, B, C |
| 1 (G) | 7, 9, 10 | D, E, F |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
A bebop melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G♯ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12 | G♯, A |
| 2 (D) | 10, 12 | C, D |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11, 13 | F, F♯, G♯ |
Why it sounds like that
A bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th F♯ to A harmonic minor. The scale contains a tritone and a leading tone. The step pattern is W, H, W, W, H, H, W, H.
When to use it
A bebop melodic minor fits A minor and A 5th chords. Use it for jazz lines over minor progressions in C major or A minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 5, covering frets 0–3 for low-position lines.
Common questions
What notes are in A bebop melodic minor?
A bebop melodic minor contains A, B, C, D, E, F, F♯, and G♯. The scale has eight notes. It adds the major 6th to A harmonic minor.
Which chords does A bebop melodic minor fit?
A bebop melodic minor fits A minor and A 5th chords. The scale works over minor progressions in C major or A minor. Use it for jazz lines.
What is the step pattern of A bebop melodic minor?
A bebop melodic minor follows W, H, W, W, H, H, W, H. The pattern includes a chromatic move between F and F♯. This creates the bebop passing tone.