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C bebop minor scale on bass guitar
C bebop minor contains C, D, E♭, E, F, G, A, and B♭. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 and places the root on string 3, fret 3.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the C bebop minor scale on bass?
C bebop minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 13 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
| 3 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | A, B♭, C |
| 2 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 1 (G) | 0, 2, 3 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C bebop minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
C bebop minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 13 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
C bebop minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 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 E string at fret 8 and the D string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 10 | E♭, E, F |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
C bebop minor in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the D string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 3 (A) | 10, 12, 13 | G, A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
Why it sounds like that
C bebop minor adds a major 3rd to C dorian, creating a chromatic run between E♭ and E. The scale includes a tritone between E♭ and A. It has no leading tone. Compare it with C dorian to hear the added major 3rd.
When to use it
C bebop minor fits C major and C minor chords, and works over D minor, E♭ major, F major, G minor, A minor, and B♭ major. Use it in jazz lines over ii–V progressions in E♭ major. Try C major or C minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root under your first finger and covers frets 0–3 for quick chromatic runs.
Common questions
What notes are in C bebop minor?
C bebop minor contains C, D, E♭, E, F, G, A, and B♭. The scale adds a major 3rd to C dorian. It has eight notes instead of seven.
Which chords does C bebop minor fit?
C bebop minor fits C major and C minor chords. It also works over D minor, E♭ major, F major, G minor, A minor, and B♭ major. Use it on ii–V progressions in E♭ major.
Does C bebop minor have a leading tone?
C bebop minor has no leading tone. The seventh degree is B♭, a minor 7th from the root. The scale's chromatic passing tone is the major 3rd, E.