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F♯ bebop dominant scale on guitar
F♯ bebop dominant contains F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, D♯♯, and E♯. Practise Box 1 first to keep the root on string 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the F♯ bebop dominant scale on guitar?
F♯ bebop dominant in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 15 notes across 6 strings, from D♯♯ 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 2 and the high e string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 2 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2 | A♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2, 3 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | G♯, A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
F♯ bebop dominant in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 14 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4 | A♯, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 5 | C♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
F♯ bebop dominant in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 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 D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | C♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6, 7 | G♯, A♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
F♯ bebop dominant in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 19 notes across 6 strings, from A♯ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | C♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 9 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
F♯ bebop dominant in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D♯♯ on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11, 12 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
F♯ bebop dominant in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 19 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 14, the G string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 14 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ bebop dominant adds a passing D♯♯ to F♯ major. The added note is a minor 7th above F♯, while E♯ is the major 7th. This creates a chromatic step between D♯, D♯♯, and E♯. The scale has a tritone and a leading tone.
When to use it
Use F♯ bebop dominant over F♯ major and F♯ 5th chords. It fits dominant progressions in B major and works for swing, bebop, and jazz-blues lines.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 2 and covers frets 0–3, which sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in F♯ bebop dominant?
F♯ bebop dominant contains F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, D♯♯, and E♯. The added D♯♯ is the chromatic passing tone between D♯ and E♯. It is the ♯6 degree. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does F♯ bebop dominant fit?
F♯ bebop dominant fits F♯ major and F♯ 5th chords. It also works over dominant progressions in B major. Use it for jazz and swing lines.
What is the enharmonic spelling of F♯?
The notes sound the same but are written differently. Use F♯ when the key signature has sharps.