- Bebop scale
Bebop scales are frequently used in
jazz improvisation and are derived from the modes of themajor scale , themelodic minor scale , and theharmonic minor scale . There are four types of frequently used bebop scales: the bebop dominant scale, the bebop Dorian scale, the bebop major scale, and the bebop melodic minor scale. Each of these scales has an extra chromaticpassing tone .Bebop dominant scale
The bebop dominant scale is derived from the
Mixolydian mode and has a chromatic passing tone between the 7th and the root. This scale is often used over dominant 7th chords.Bebop Dorian scale
The bebop Dorian scale is derived from the
Dorian mode and has a chromatic passing tone between the 3rd and 4th notes. This scale is often used over minor 7th chords. The Bebop Dorian scale is a mode of the Bebop Dominant scale.Bebop major scale
The bebop major scale is derived from the Ionian mode and has a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th notes. This scale is often used over major 6th chords.
Bebop melodic minor scale
The bebop melodic minor scale is derived from the ascending form of the
melodic minor scale and has a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th notes. This scale is often used over minor 6th chords.These scales are listed in David N. Baker's books on Bebop.
They are also included, with the exception of the Dorian bebop scale, in Roni Ben-Hur's book "Talk Jazz: A Comprehensive Collection of Bebop Studies," which is derived from the work of
Barry Harris . Ben-Hur further elaborates on the concept of placing additional chromatic passing tones between other notes in the scales.Bebop harmonic minor scale
The bebop harmonic minor scale is derived from the harmonic minor scale and has a chromatic passing tone (an additional b7) between the 6th and the 7th notes. It can be used on all three chords of a minor II-V-I progression. This scale is listed in
Randy Halberstad's book "Metaphors For The Musician -- Perspectives from a Jazz Pianist".Further reading
*David Baker, "Jazz Improvisation", Alfred.
*David Baker, "Arranging and Composing", Alfred.
*Mark Levine, "The Drop 2 Book", Sher Music Co.
*Mark Levine, "The Jazz Theory Book", Sher Music Co.
*Randy Halberstadt, "Metaphors For The Musician", Sher Music Co.External links
* [http://www.jazzguitar.be/bebopscale.html The Bebop Scale For Guitar]
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