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B♭ bebop dominant scale on guitar
B♭ bebop dominant contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, G♯, and A. Practise Box 1 first to keep the root under your hand.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the B♭ bebop dominant scale on guitar?
B♭ bebop dominant in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 3 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, G♯ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ bebop dominant in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 19 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the G string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ bebop dominant in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ bebop dominant in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 17 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B♭ bebop dominant in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 19 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12, 13 | F, G, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 13 | A, B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ bebop dominant adds a passing G♯ to B♭ major. The added note is a minor 7th above B♭, while A is the major 7th. This creates a chromatic step between G, G♯, and A. The scale has a tritone and a leading tone.
When to use it
Use B♭ bebop dominant over B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. It fits dominant progressions in E♭ major and works for swing, bebop, and jazz-blues lines.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 5, fret 1 and covers frets 1–4, which sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ bebop dominant?
B♭ bebop dominant contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, G♯, and A. The added G♯ is the chromatic passing tone between G and A. It is the ♯6 degree. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ bebop dominant fit?
B♭ bebop dominant fits B♭ major and B♭ 5th chords. It also works over dominant progressions in E♭ major. Use it for jazz and swing lines.
What is the enharmonic spelling of B♭?
The notes sound the same but are written differently. Use B♭ when the key signature has flats.