Bebop Scales

What are Bebop Scales?

Bebop scales were created by early jazz musicians as a way to solve a problem. The problem was, when you try improvising with a classic scale like minor or major, by the time you make it to the next octave, you haven’t landed on the downbeat, because your scale only has 7 notes, an odd number. So they added one note to the these scales in order to make them octatonic (8-notes). This allows you to start playing a bebop scale on the root and end on the root too. There are two primary bebop scales, Bebop Major and Bebop Mixolydian. However, most musicians are unaware of the other bebop scales, Bebop Dorian and Bebop Melodic Minor, both of which may be varied.

Bebop Major Scale

The major bebop scale is a major scale with a flat 6. Use this bebop scale when playing major seventh and add 6 chords.

Purchase the full Bebop Major scale in all keys with fingerings.

Bebop Mixolydian Scale

The mixolydian bebop scale is a major scale with a flat 7. This bebop scale is the quintessential jazz scale, fitting perfectly with dominant seventh chords and harmonies.

Purchase the full Bebop Mixolydian scale in all keys with fingerings.

Bebop Dorian (1) Scale

The first dorian bebop scale is a dorian scale with an added major 7. This bebop scale adds an interesting major sonority to the classic dorian mode.

Bebop Dorian (2) Scale

The second dorian bebop scale adds the major third. This bebop scale also adds an interesting major sonority with adds a hint of the major blues scale.

Bebop Melodic Minor (1) Scale

This bebop scale is perhaps the most interesting of all the bebop scales. The first melodic minor bebop scale is similar to the first dorian bebop scale. The difference between those two bebop scales is that in the melodic minor bebop scale, you swap the Bb (flat 7) of the dorian bebop scale with the flat 6 (Ab).