Explore scales · Ukulele
E♭ bebop melodic minor scale on ukulele
E♭ bebop melodic minor runs E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, C, D. Box 1 places roots at string 3 fret 3 and string 1 fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 6, 7
How do you play the E♭ bebop melodic minor scale on ukulele?
E♭ bebop melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the C string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 2, 3 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1, 2 | F, G♭ |
| 1 (A) | 1, 2, 3 | B♭, C♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ 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 C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 4, 5 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 3 (C) | 3, 5, 6 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
E♭ bebop melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 12 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 G string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 6, 8 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 7, 8 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 1 (A) | 5, 6, 8 | D, E♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ bebop melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 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 G string at fret 8 and the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10, 11 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–12
E♭ 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 E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10, 11 | F, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 10, 11, 12 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 2 (E) | 10, 11 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 11 | A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ bebop melodic minor adds the major 6th C to E♭ harmonic minor, which already has the major 7th D. The extra note creates a chromatic run from C♭ to D. Compare E♭ harmonic minor to hear the added colour.
When to use it
E♭ bebop melodic minor fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. Use it over minor vamps in E♭, especially when the chord moves to B♭ major or B♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 3 fret 3 keeps the hand low, and the shape covers frets 0–3 for quick access to the chromatic cluster.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ bebop melodic minor?
E♭ bebop melodic minor contains E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, C, D. The C is the added major 6th that distinguishes it from E♭ harmonic minor. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords work with E♭ bebop melodic minor?
E♭ bebop melodic minor works over E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. The major 7th D also allows it to fit B♭ major or B♭ 5th in an E♭ minor context.
How is E♭ bebop melodic minor different from E♭ harmonic minor?
E♭ bebop melodic minor adds C, the major 6th, to E♭ harmonic minor. This creates a chromatic line from C♭ through C to D.