Explore scales · Ukulele
A♭ bebop melodic minor scale on ukulele
A♭ bebop melodic minor runs A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, F, G. Box 1 places roots at string 4 fret 1 and string 2 fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the A♭ bebop melodic minor scale on ukulele?
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the C string at fret 1 up to D♭ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 1 and the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (C) | 1, 3, 4 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 11 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (C) | 3, 4, 5 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 2 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 10 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the C string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 7, 8 | F, G, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 7 | B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 7, 8 | E♭, F♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the C string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 9, 10 | E♭, F♭, F |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10, 11 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–12
A♭ bebop melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 12, 8 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the C string at fret 10 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 3 (C) | 10, 11 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 11, 12 | E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th F to A♭ harmonic minor, which already has the major 7th G. The extra note creates a chromatic run from F♭ to G. Compare A♭ harmonic minor to hear the added colour.
When to use it
A♭ bebop melodic minor fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. Use it over minor vamps in A♭, especially when the chord moves to E♭ major or E♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 4 fret 1 keeps the hand low, and the shape covers frets 1–4 for quick access to the chromatic cluster.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ bebop melodic minor?
A♭ bebop melodic minor contains A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, F, G. The F is the added major 6th that distinguishes it from A♭ harmonic minor. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords work with A♭ bebop melodic minor?
A♭ bebop melodic minor works over A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. The major 7th G also allows it to fit E♭ major or E♭ 5th in an A♭ minor context.
How is A♭ bebop melodic minor different from A♭ harmonic minor?
A♭ bebop melodic minor adds F, the major 6th, to A♭ harmonic minor. This creates a chromatic line from F♭ through F to G.