Explore scales · Bass
E♭ bebop minor scale on bass guitar
E♭ bebop minor contains E♭, F, G♭, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D♭. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 and places the root on string 2, fret 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ bebop minor scale on bass?
E♭ bebop minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 12 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 D string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | F, G♭, G, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ 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 A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | F, G♭, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ 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 A string at fret 6 and the G 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) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ bebop minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 13 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 E string at fret 11 and the G 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, 11 | F, G♭, G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ bebop 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 13. The root falls on the E string at fret 11 and the D 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) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 13 | G♭, G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ bebop minor adds a major 3rd to E♭ dorian, creating a chromatic run between G♭ and G. The scale includes a tritone between G♭ and C. It has no leading tone. Compare it with E♭ dorian to hear the added major 3rd.
When to use it
E♭ bebop minor fits E♭ major and E♭ minor chords, and works over F minor, G♭ major, A♭ major, B♭ minor, C minor, and D♭ major. Use it in jazz lines over ii–V progressions in G♭ major. Try E♭ major or E♭ 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 E♭ bebop minor?
E♭ bebop minor contains E♭, F, G♭, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D♭. The scale adds a major 3rd to E♭ dorian. It has eight notes instead of seven. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does E♭ bebop minor fit?
E♭ bebop minor fits E♭ major and E♭ minor chords. It also works over F minor, G♭ major, A♭ major, B♭ minor, C minor, and D♭ major. Use it on ii–V progressions in G♭ major.
Does E♭ bebop minor have a leading tone?
E♭ bebop minor has no leading tone. The seventh degree is D♭, a minor 7th from the root. The scale's chromatic passing tone is the major 3rd, G.