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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 4.

EE♯F♯A♯BD♯EE♯G♯A♯EADG123
Positions on the neck1 of 6

How it is built

C♯1D♯2E♭3E♯3F♯4G♯5A♯6B♭7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the C♯ bebop minor scale on bass?

C♯ bebop 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
StringFretsNotes
4 (E)0, 1, 2E, E♯, F♯
3 (A)1, 2A♯, B
2 (D)1, 2, 3D♯, E, E♯
1 (G)1, 3G♯, A♯

Box 2 · frets 2–4

C♯ bebop minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 4, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (E)2, 4F♯, G♯
3 (A)2, 4B, C♯
2 (D)2, 3, 4E, E♯, F♯
1 (G)3, 4A♯, B

Box 3 · frets 4–7

C♯ bebop minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 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
StringFretsNotes
4 (E)4, 6, 7G♯, A♯, B
3 (A)4, 6, 7C♯, D♯, E
2 (D)4, 6F♯, G♯
1 (G)4, 6B, C♯

Box 4 · frets 6–9

C♯ bebop minor in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 13 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
StringFretsNotes
4 (E)6, 7, 9A♯, B, C♯
3 (A)6, 7, 8, 9D♯, E, E♯, F♯
2 (D)6, 8, 9G♯, A♯, B
1 (G)6, 8, 9C♯, D♯, E

Box 5 · frets 9–12

C♯ bebop 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
StringFretsNotes
4 (E)9, 11, 12C♯, D♯, E
3 (A)9, 11F♯, G♯
2 (D)9, 11B, C♯
1 (G)9, 10, 11E, E♯, F♯

Box 6 · frets 11–14

C♯ bebop 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 G♯ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the D string at fret 11.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (E)11, 12, 13, 14D♯, E, E♯, F♯
3 (A)11, 13, 14G♯, A♯, B
2 (D)11, 13, 14C♯, D♯, E
1 (G)11, 13F♯, 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. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

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♯.