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C♯ bebop melodic minor scale on bass guitar
C♯ bebop melodic minor contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, A♯, and B♯. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 4 and string 1, fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the C♯ bebop melodic minor scale on bass?
C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A♯ on the G string at fret 3. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 0, 1, 3 | A, A♯, B♯ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 1, 2, 3 | G♯, A, A♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 10 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B♯ on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | B♯, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | A, A♯, B♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the E string at fret 4 up to C♯ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 6 | G♯, A, A♯ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6 | B♯, C♯ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from A♯ on the E string at fret 6 up to E on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | A♯, B♯, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 7, 8 | G♯, A, A♯ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | C♯, D♯, E |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the D string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (D) | 10, 11 | B♯, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the D string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 13 | G♯, A, A♯ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | F♯, G♯, A |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th A♯ to C♯ 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
C♯ bebop melodic minor fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. Use it for jazz lines over minor progressions in E major or C♯ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 4, covering frets 0–3 for low-position lines.
Common questions
What notes are in C♯ bebop melodic minor?
C♯ bebop melodic minor contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, A♯, and B♯. The scale has eight notes. It adds the major 6th to C♯ harmonic minor. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does C♯ bebop melodic minor fit?
C♯ bebop melodic minor fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. The scale works over minor progressions in E major or C♯ minor. Use it for jazz lines.
What is the step pattern of C♯ bebop melodic minor?
C♯ bebop melodic minor follows W, H, W, W, H, H, W, H. The pattern includes a chromatic move between A and A♯. This creates the bebop passing tone.