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B♭ bebop melodic minor scale on bass guitar
B♭ bebop melodic minor contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, G, and A. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 1 and string 1, fret 3.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ bebop melodic minor scale on bass?
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2, 3 | F, G♭, G |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 4, 5 | F, G♭, G |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 10 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 E string at fret 6 and the D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 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 D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9, 10 | F, G♭, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ bebop melodic 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 14. The root falls on the A 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) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | G♭, G, A |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th G to B♭ 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
B♭ bebop melodic minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. Use it for jazz lines over minor progressions in D♭ major or B♭ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 1, covering frets 1–4 for low-position lines.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ bebop melodic minor?
B♭ bebop melodic minor contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, G, and A. The scale has eight notes. It adds the major 6th to B♭ harmonic minor. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ bebop melodic minor fit?
B♭ bebop melodic minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. The scale works over minor progressions in D♭ major or B♭ minor. Use it for jazz lines.
What is the step pattern of B♭ bebop melodic minor?
B♭ bebop melodic minor follows W, H, W, W, H, H, W, H. The pattern includes a chromatic move between G♭ and G. This creates the bebop passing tone.