Explore scales · Bass
B♭ bebop minor scale on bass guitar
B♭ bebop minor contains B♭, C, D♭, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 and places the root on string 3, fret 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ bebop minor scale on bass?
B♭ bebop minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 10 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, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ bebop minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 13 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, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ bebop 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 | E♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 8 | D♭, D, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ bebop 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 F on the G string at fret 10. 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, 10, 11 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B♭ bebop minor in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 13 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 12, 13 | F, G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ bebop minor adds a major 3rd to B♭ dorian, creating a chromatic run between D♭ and D. The scale includes a tritone between D♭ and G. It has no leading tone. Compare it with B♭ dorian to hear the added major 3rd.
When to use it
B♭ bebop minor fits B♭ major and B♭ minor chords, and works over C minor, D♭ major, E♭ major, F minor, G minor, and A♭ major. Use it in jazz lines over ii–V progressions in D♭ major. Try B♭ major or B♭ 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 B♭ bebop minor?
B♭ bebop minor contains B♭, C, D♭, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. The scale adds a major 3rd to B♭ dorian. It has eight notes instead of seven. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ bebop minor fit?
B♭ bebop minor fits B♭ major and B♭ minor chords. It also works over C minor, D♭ major, E♭ major, F minor, G minor, and A♭ major. Use it on ii–V progressions in D♭ major.
Does B♭ bebop minor have a leading tone?
B♭ bebop minor has no leading tone. The seventh degree is A♭, a minor 7th from the root. The scale's chromatic passing tone is the major 3rd, D.