D Bebop Melodic Minor Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

D1E2F♭3G4A5B♭♭6B6C♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7

Chords these notes build

D1D Minor D 5th D Suspended 2nd D Suspended 4th D Minor Major 7th D Minor 6th D Minor Add 9
E2E 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
F♭3F Augmented F Augmented Major 7th
G4G Major G Minor G 5th G Suspended 2nd G 7th G Minor 7th G 7th Flat 5 G Minor 7th Flat 5th G 6th G Minor 6th G Add 9 G Minor Add 9 G Diminished G Diminished 7th
A5A Major A 5th A Suspended 2nd A Suspended 4th A 7th A 7th Sharp 5 A 7th Suspended 4th A Add 9 A Augmented
B♭♭6B♭ Major B♭ Minor B♭ 5th B♭ Major 7th B♭ Minor Major 7th B♭ 6th B♭ Minor 6th B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th B♭ Diminished Major 7th
B6B Minor 7th Flat 5th B Diminished B Diminished Major 7th
C♯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 D bebop melodic minor scale on ukulele?

D bebop melodic minor 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, 5	D, E, F
2 (E)	3, 5	G, A
1 (A)	2, 4, 5	B, C♯, D

Box 2 · frets 4–7

D bebop melodic minor 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, 5, 7	E, F, G
2 (E)	5, 6, 7	A, B♭, B
1 (A)	4, 5, 7	C♯, D, E

Box 3 · frets 7–10

D bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 12 notes across 4 strings, from G on the C string at fret 7 up to G on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the G string at fret 7 and the E string at fret 10.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	7, 9, 10	D, E, F
3 (C)	7, 9, 10	G, A, B♭
2 (E)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D
1 (A)	7, 8, 10	E, F, G

Box 4 · frets 9–12

D bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 11 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, 10, 12	E, F, G
3 (C)	9, 10, 11	A, B♭, B
2 (E)	9, 10, 12	C♯, D, E
1 (A)	10, 12	G, A

Why it sounds like that

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

When to use it

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

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 3 fret 2 keeps the hand low, and the shape covers frets 2–5 for quick access to the chromatic cluster.

Common questions

What notes are in D bebop melodic minor?

D bebop melodic minor contains D, E, F, G, A, B♭, B, C♯. The B is the added major 6th that distinguishes it from D harmonic minor.

Which chords work with D bebop melodic minor?

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

How is D bebop melodic minor different from D harmonic minor?

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