F♯ bebop minor scale on bass guitar

F♯ bebop minor contains F♯, G♯, A, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, and E. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 and places the root on string 4, fret 2.

Positions on the neck1 of 6

How it is built

F♯1G♯2A♭3A♯3B4C♯5D♯6E♭7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7

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

F♯ 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. The root falls on the E string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	0, 2	E, F♯
3 (A)	0, 1, 2	A, A♯, B
2 (D)	1, 2	D♯, E
1 (G)	1, 2, 3	G♯, A, A♯

Box 2 · frets 2–5

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

Box 3 · frets 4–7

F♯ bebop minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 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 D string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	4, 5, 6, 7	G♯, A, A♯, B
3 (A)	4, 6, 7	C♯, D♯, E
2 (D)	4, 6, 7	F♯, G♯, A
1 (G)	4, 6	B, C♯

Box 4 · frets 6–9

F♯ 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 A string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (E)	6, 7, 9	A♯, B, C♯
3 (A)	6, 7, 9	D♯, E, F♯
2 (D)	6, 7, 8, 9	G♯, A, A♯, B
1 (G)	6, 8, 9	C♯, D♯, E

Box 5 · frets 9–12

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

Box 6 · frets 11–14

F♯ bebop minor in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 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, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯
3 (A)	11, 12, 13, 14	G♯, A, A♯, B
2 (D)	11, 13, 14	C♯, D♯, E
1 (G)	11, 13, 14	F♯, G♯, A

Why it sounds like that

F♯ bebop minor adds a major 3rd to F♯ dorian, creating a chromatic run between A and A♯. The scale includes a tritone between A and D♯. It has no leading tone. Compare it with F♯ dorian to hear the added major 3rd.

When to use it

F♯ bebop minor fits F♯ major and F♯ minor chords, and works over G♯ minor, A major, B major, C♯ minor, D♯ minor, and E major. Use it in jazz lines over ii–V progressions in A major. Try F♯ major or F♯ 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 F♯ bebop minor?

F♯ bebop minor contains F♯, G♯, A, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, and E. The scale adds a major 3rd to F♯ dorian. It has eight notes instead of seven. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords does F♯ bebop minor fit?

F♯ bebop minor fits F♯ major and F♯ minor chords. It also works over G♯ minor, A major, B major, C♯ minor, D♯ minor, and E major. Use it on ii–V progressions in A major.

Does F♯ bebop minor have a leading tone?

F♯ bebop minor has no leading tone. The seventh degree is E, a minor 7th from the root. The scale's chromatic passing tone is the major 3rd, A♯.