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E bebop major scale on guitar

E bebop major includes E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C, C♯, D♯. The added C creates a chromatic run from B to C♯.

EF♯ABCD♯EG♯ABCC♯EF♯EADGBE123
Positions on the neck1 of 6

How it is built

E1F♯2G♯3A4B5C♭6C♯6D♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the E bebop major scale on guitar?

E bebop major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the low E string at fret 0, the D string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 0.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)0, 2E, F♯
5 (A)0, 2, 3A, B, C
4 (D)1, 2D♯, E
3 (G)1, 2G♯, A
2 (B)0, 1, 2B, C, C♯
1 (e)0, 2E, F♯

Box 2 · frets 2–5

E bebop major in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 17 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 D string at fret 2 and the B string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)2, 4, 5F♯, G♯, A
5 (A)2, 3, 4B, C, C♯
4 (D)2, 4E, F♯
3 (G)2, 4, 5A, B, C
2 (B)2, 4, 5C♯, D♯, E
1 (e)2, 4, 5F♯, G♯, A

Box 3 · frets 4–7

E bebop major in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 18 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)4, 5, 7G♯, A, B
5 (A)4, 6, 7C♯, D♯, E
4 (D)4, 6, 7F♯, G♯, A
3 (G)4, 5, 6B, C, C♯
2 (B)4, 5, 7D♯, E, F♯
1 (e)4, 5, 7G♯, A, B

Box 4 · frets 7–10

E bebop major in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)7, 8, 9B, C, C♯
5 (A)7, 9E, F♯
4 (D)7, 9, 10A, B, C
3 (G)8, 9D♯, E
2 (B)7, 9, 10F♯, G♯, A
1 (e)7, 8, 9B, C, C♯

Box 5 · frets 9–12

E bebop major in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 17 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 low E string at fret 12, the G string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)9, 11, 12C♯, D♯, E
5 (A)9, 11, 12F♯, G♯, A
4 (D)9, 10, 11B, C, C♯
3 (G)9, 11E, F♯
2 (B)9, 10, 12G♯, A, B
1 (e)9, 11, 12C♯, D♯, E

Box 6 · frets 11–14

E bebop major in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 18 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the low E string at fret 12, the D string at fret 14 and the high e string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)11, 12, 14D♯, E, F♯
5 (A)11, 12, 14G♯, A, B
4 (D)11, 13, 14C♯, D♯, E
3 (G)11, 13, 14F♯, G♯, A
2 (B)12, 13, 14B, C, C♯
1 (e)11, 12, 14D♯, E, F♯

Why it sounds like that

Add C to E major (E–F♯–G♯–A–B–C♯–D♯) between B and C♯. This ♭6 passing tone makes the scale eight notes long and keeps chord tones on strong beats. See E major for the parent scale.

When to use it

Works over E major and E7 chords in swing, bebop, and blues. The C adds a bluesy inflection to the major scale. Use it on E major or E 5th vamps.

Which position to practise

Learn Box 1 first. It covers frets 0–3 with the root on string 4, fret 2, ideal for open-position lines.

Common questions

What is the formula for E bebop major?

The formula is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7. In E, that gives E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C, C♯, D♯. The C is the added note.

Which chords can I play E bebop major over?

E major and E7 chords are the primary choices. The scale also fits E6 and E9 chords. The C acts as a chromatic passing tone.

How does E bebop major differ from E major?

E bebop major has an extra C note. E major has seven notes; bebop major has eight. The extra note makes lines fall on chord tones.