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F bebop melodic minor scale on bass guitar
F bebop melodic minor contains F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, D, and E. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 1 and string 2, fret 3.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the F bebop melodic minor scale on bass?
F bebop melodic 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 E string at fret 1 and the D 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) | 2, 3 | E, F |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
F bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 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 D 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 | C, D♭, D |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
F bebop melodic 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 9. The root falls on the A 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) | 7, 8 | E, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 9 | D♭, D, E |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
F bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 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 A string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 10 | C, D♭, D |
| 3 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 10 | E, F |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
F bebop melodic 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 A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the E string at fret 13 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 10, 11, 12 | C, D♭, D |
| 1 (G) | 10, 12, 13 | F, G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
F bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th D to F 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
F bebop melodic minor fits F minor and F 5th chords. Use it for jazz lines over minor progressions in A♭ major or F minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 1, covering frets 1–4 for low-position lines.
Common questions
What notes are in F bebop melodic minor?
F bebop melodic minor contains F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, D, and E. The scale has eight notes. It adds the major 6th to F harmonic minor.
Which chords does F bebop melodic minor fit?
F bebop melodic minor fits F minor and F 5th chords. The scale works over minor progressions in A♭ major or F minor. Use it for jazz lines.
What is the step pattern of F bebop melodic minor?
F bebop melodic minor follows W, H, W, W, H, H, W, H. The pattern includes a chromatic move between D♭ and D. This creates the bebop passing tone.