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A♭ bebop minor scale on bass guitar
A♭ bebop minor contains A♭, B♭, C♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G♭. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 and places the root on string 4, fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ bebop minor scale on bass?
A♭ bebop minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 13 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the E string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | B♭, C♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
A♭ bebop 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 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 5, 6 | C♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
A♭ bebop 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 E♭ on the G string at fret 8. 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, 8, 9 | B♭, C♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ bebop minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 13 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | B♭, C♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ bebop minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 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, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ bebop minor adds a major 3rd to A♭ dorian, creating a chromatic run between C♭ and C. The scale includes a tritone between C♭ and F. It has no leading tone. Compare it with A♭ dorian to hear the added major 3rd.
When to use it
A♭ bebop minor fits A♭ major and A♭ minor chords, and works over B♭ minor, C♭ major, D♭ major, E♭ minor, F minor, and G♭ major. Use it in jazz lines over ii–V progressions in C♭ major. Try A♭ major or A♭ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root under your first finger and covers frets 1–4 for quick chromatic runs.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ bebop minor?
A♭ bebop minor contains A♭, B♭, C♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, and G♭. The scale adds a major 3rd to A♭ dorian. It has eight notes instead of seven. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does A♭ bebop minor fit?
A♭ bebop minor fits A♭ major and A♭ minor chords. It also works over B♭ minor, C♭ major, D♭ major, E♭ minor, F minor, and G♭ major. Use it on ii–V progressions in C♭ major.
Does A♭ bebop minor have a leading tone?
A♭ bebop minor has no leading tone. The seventh degree is G♭, a minor 7th from the root. The scale's chromatic passing tone is the major 3rd, C.