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A bebop dominant scale on guitar
A bebop dominant contains A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, F♯♯, G♯. The added F♯♯ between F♯ and G♯ keeps eighth-note lines landing on chord tones.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the A bebop dominant scale on guitar?
A bebop dominant in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯♯ on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2, 3 | E, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2 | D, E |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2 | F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2, 3 | B, C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2, 3 | E, F♯, F♯♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A bebop dominant in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 19 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4, 5 | B, C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4, 5 | E, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 5 | C♯, D, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A bebop dominant in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 14 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 7 | A, B |
| 5 (A) | 5, 7 | D, E |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6, 7 | F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7 | C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7, 8 | E, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 5, 7 | A, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A bebop dominant in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 17 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9, 10 | E, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9 | D, E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
A bebop dominant in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 19 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11, 12 | E, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | G♯, A, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
Why it sounds like that
A bebop dominant adds a passing F♯♯ to the seven-note A major scale, creating an eight-note scale with both a minor and major seventh. The F♯♯ sits between F♯ and G♯, smoothing lines over dominant chords. Compare it with A major to hear the added chromatic step.
When to use it
Use A bebop dominant over A7 or A major chords in blues, jazz, and swing. It fits progressions in A major and its relative F♯ minor. Try it over A major or A 5th.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 5, covering frets 0–3. It sets up Box 2, which extends the range upward.
Common questions
What notes are in A bebop dominant?
A bebop dominant contains A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, F♯♯, G♯. The F♯♯ is the added chromatic passing tone between F♯ and G♯. It is not part of the underlying A major scale.
Which chords fit A bebop dominant?
A bebop dominant fits A major and A 5th chords. It also works over A7, the dominant seventh chord built on A. The scale's chromatic passing tone smooths lines over these chords.
How does A bebop dominant differ from A major?
A bebop dominant adds F♯♯ between F♯ and G♯. A major has only seven notes, while this scale has eight. The extra note creates a chromatic run that resolves to the major seventh.