C# Bebop Melodic Minor Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

C♯1D♯2E♭3F♯4G♯5A♭6A♯6B♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

C♯1C♯ Minor C♯ 5th C♯ Suspended 2nd C♯ Suspended 4th C♯ Minor Major 7th C♯ Minor 6th C♯ Minor Add 9
D♯2E♭ Minor E♭ 5th E♭ Suspended 4th E♭ Minor 7th E♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th E♭ 7th Suspended 4th E♭ Minor 6th E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th
E♭3E Augmented E Augmented Major 7th
F♯4F♯ Major F♯ Minor F♯ 5th F♯ Suspended 2nd F♯ 7th F♯ Minor 7th F♯ 7th Flat 5 F♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th F♯ 6th F♯ Minor 6th F♯ Add 9 F♯ Minor Add 9 F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th
G♯5A♭ Major A♭ 5th A♭ Suspended 2nd A♭ Suspended 4th A♭ 7th A♭ 7th Sharp 5 A♭ 7th Suspended 4th A♭ Add 9 A♭ Augmented
A♭6A Major A Minor A 5th A Major 7th A Minor Major 7th A 6th A Minor 6th A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
A♯6B♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished Major 7th
B♯7C 7th Flat 5 C 7th Sharp 5 C Minor 7th Flat 5th C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Augmented

How do you play the C♯ bebop melodic minor scale on ukulele?

C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the C string at fret 1 up to C♯ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 1 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	1, 2, 3	G♯, A, A♯
3 (C)	1, 3, 4	C♯, D♯, E
2 (E)	2, 4	F♯, G♯
1 (A)	1, 3, 4	A♯, B♯, C♯

Box 2 · frets 3–6

C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the C string at fret 3 up to D♯ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	3, 5, 6	A♯, B♯, C♯
3 (C)	3, 4, 6	D♯, E, F♯
2 (E)	4, 5, 6	G♯, A, A♯
1 (A)	3, 4, 6	B♯, C♯, D♯

Box 3 · frets 6–9

C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the C string at fret 6 up to F♯ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	6, 8, 9	C♯, D♯, E
3 (C)	6, 8, 9	F♯, G♯, A
2 (E)	6, 8, 9	A♯, B♯, C♯
1 (A)	6, 7, 9	D♯, E, F♯

Box 4 · frets 8–11

C♯ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the C string at fret 8 up to G♯ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	8, 9, 11	D♯, E, F♯
3 (C)	8, 9, 10	G♯, A, A♯
2 (E)	8, 9, 11	B♯, C♯, D♯
1 (A)	9, 11	F♯, G♯

Why it sounds like that

C♯ bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th A♯ to C♯ harmonic minor, which already has the major 7th B♯. The extra note creates a chromatic run from A to B♯. Compare C♯ harmonic minor to hear the added colour.

When to use it

C♯ bebop melodic minor fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. Use it over minor vamps in C♯, especially when the chord moves to G♯ major or G♯ 5th.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 4 fret 6 keeps the hand low, and the shape covers frets 1–4 for quick access to the chromatic cluster.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ bebop melodic minor?

C♯ bebop melodic minor contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, A♯, B♯. The A♯ is the added major 6th that distinguishes it from C♯ harmonic minor. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords work with C♯ bebop melodic minor?

C♯ bebop melodic minor works over C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. The major 7th B♯ also allows it to fit G♯ major or G♯ 5th in a C♯ minor context.

How is C♯ bebop melodic minor different from C♯ harmonic minor?

C♯ bebop melodic minor adds A♯, the major 6th, to C♯ harmonic minor. This creates a chromatic line from A through A♯ to B♯.