Explore scales · Guitar
B♭ bebop minor scale on guitar
B♭ bebop minor uses B♭, C, D♭, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. Box 1 starts on string 6, fret 6 for a compact shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ bebop minor scale on guitar?
B♭ bebop 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 A♭ 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, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ bebop minor 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, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ bebop 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 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8 | D♭, D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
B♭ bebop minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 19 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, 10, 11 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
B♭ bebop minor in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 18 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, 13 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C, D♭, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12, 13 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ bebop minor adds the major 3rd D to the seven-note B♭ dorian scale. The extra note creates a chromatic run from D♭ to D to E♭. This scale contains a tritone between D♭ and G. It has no leading tone.
When to use it
B♭ bebop minor fits B♭ major and B♭ minor chords. Use it over B♭ blues progressions and jazz minor vamps. The added D smooths lines over dominant chords.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 6, fret 6, covering frets 1–4 for low-position lines.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ bebop minor?
B♭ bebop minor contains B♭, C, D♭, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. The scale adds a major 3rd to the natural minor. This creates a chromatic passage between the minor 3rd and perfect 4th. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ bebop minor fit?
B♭ bebop minor fits B♭ major and B♭ minor chords. The scale also works over B♭ dominant 7th chords. Use it in jazz and blues contexts.
What is the relative major of B♭ bebop minor?
B♭ bebop minor shares its key signature with D♭ major. The relative major is D♭. This relationship helps when moving between major and minor bebop sounds.