D Bebop Major Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

D1E2F♯3G4A5B♭♭6B6C♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

D1D Major D 5th D Suspended 2nd D Suspended 4th D Major 7th D 6th D Add 9 D Augmented D Augmented Major 7th
E2E Minor E 5th E Suspended 2nd E Suspended 4th E Minor 7th E Minor 7th Flat 5th E 7th Suspended 4th E Minor 6th E Minor Add 9 E Diminished E Diminished 7th
F♯3F♯ Major F♯ Minor F♯ 5th F♯ Suspended 4th F♯ 7th F♯ Minor 7th F♯ 7th Sharp 5 F♯ 7th Suspended 4th F♯ Augmented
G4G Major G Minor G 5th G Suspended 2nd G Major 7th G Minor Major 7th G 6th G Minor 6th G Add 9 G Minor Add 9 G Diminished G Diminished 7th G Diminished Major 7th
A5A Major A 5th A Suspended 2nd A Suspended 4th A 7th A 7th Suspended 4th A 6th A Add 9
B♭♭6B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th B♭ Diminished Major 7th B♭ Augmented B♭ Augmented Major 7th
B6B Minor B 5th B Suspended 2nd B Suspended 4th B Minor 7th B Minor Major 7th B 7th Suspended 4th B Minor Add 9
C♯7C♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th

How do you play the D bebop major scale on ukulele?

D bebop major in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the C string at fret 2 and the A string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 2 · frets 4–7

D bebop major in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 7 and the A string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	4, 6, 7	B, C♯, D
3 (C)	4, 6, 7	E, F♯, G
2 (E)	5, 6, 7	A, B♭, B
1 (A)	4, 5, 7	C♯, D, E

Box 3 · frets 6–9

D bebop major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 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 7.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 4 · frets 9–12

D bebop major in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	9, 11, 12	E, F♯, G
3 (C)	9, 10, 11	A, B♭, B
2 (E)	9, 10, 12	C♯, D, E
1 (A)	9, 10, 12	F♯, G, A

Why it sounds like that

D bebop major adds a ♭6 to D major, creating an eight-note scale with a passing tone between the 5th and 6th. The added B♭ is an augmented 5th from D, while B remains the major 6th. This scale contains a tritone and a leading tone.

When to use it

Use D bebop major over D major and D 5th chords. The ♭6 works as a passing tone over B♭ diminished and B minor. It fits D major progressions and bebop lines in D.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first; it keeps the root on string 3, fret 2 and string 1, fret 5. This position covers frets 2–5 and sets up Box 2.

Common questions

What notes are in D bebop major?

D bebop major contains D, E, F♯, G, A, B♭, B, and C♯. The scale adds a ♭6 to D major. The ♭6 is a passing tone between the 5th and 6th.

Which chords fit D bebop major?

D bebop major fits D major and D 5th chords. The ♭6 works over B♭ diminished and B minor. Use it over D major progressions.

What is the relative minor of D bebop major?

The relative minor of D bebop major is B minor. The scale shares the same key signature as D major. The added ♭6 does not change the relative minor.