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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 4 and string 1, fret 1.
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 F♭ on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | F♭, F, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2, 3 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4 and the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 6 | G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 8 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 10, 12 | F♭, F, G |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 13 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
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 4, 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. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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.