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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 2 and string 2, fret 4.
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 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 4. The root falls on the E string at fret 2 and the D 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) | 2, 4, 5 | B, C♯, D |
| 2 (D) | 3, 4 | E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F♯ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the E string at fret 4 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the D string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5, 6 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6, 7 | B, C♯, D |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
F♯ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 10 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E♯ on the G string at fret 10. The root falls on the A string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (A) | 8, 9 | E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 10 | D, D♯, E♯ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
F♯ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 11 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 A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 10, 11 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11 | E♯, F♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F♯ bebop melodic minor in box 5 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 E string at fret 14 and the G string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | G♯, A, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 12, 13 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | 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 2, covering frets 2–5 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. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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.