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B♭ bebop melodic minor scale on guitar
B♭ bebop melodic minor runs B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, G, A. The added major 6th creates a chromatic run from G♭ to A for fluid bebop phrasing.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ bebop melodic minor scale on guitar?
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 17 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. 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, 2, 3 | F, G♭, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 3 | F, G♭, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 17 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, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 4, 5 | F, G♭, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. 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, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8 | F, G♭, G |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 18 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, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 10 | F, G♭, G |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10, 11 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ bebop melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. 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) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | G♭, G, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ bebop melodic minor adds a major 6th to B♭ harmonic minor, inserting G between G♭ and A. The scale retains the harmonic minor’s augmented 5th and major 7th, so it contains a tritone and a leading tone. Compare it with B♭ harmonic minor to hear the added passing tone.
When to use it
B♭ bebop melodic minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords, especially in jazz lines where the major 6th adds forward motion. Use it over B♭ minor or B♭ 5th in bebop and swing styles.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 6, and the shape covers frets 1–4. It sets up Box 2 for higher positions.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ bebop melodic minor?
B♭ bebop melodic minor contains B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, G, and A. The added G is the major 6th that creates the bebop passing tone. The scale has eight notes instead of seven. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ bebop melodic minor fit?
B♭ bebop melodic minor fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. The major 6th and major 7th add colour without clashing with the minor third. Use it over minor vamps in jazz and fusion.
How does B♭ bebop melodic minor differ from B♭ harmonic minor?
B♭ bebop melodic minor adds G between G♭ and A. B♭ harmonic minor has only seven notes and lacks the major 6th. The added note creates a chromatic run for smoother lines.