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

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

Bebop Mixolydian Scale

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