Bebop scale
Encyclopedia
The bebop scales are frequently used in jazz improvisation
and are derived from the modes of the major scale
, the melodic minor scale, and the harmonic 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 chromatic
passing tone. In general, bebop scales consist of traditional scales with an added passing tone placed such that when the scale is begun on a chord tone and on the downbeat, all other chord tones will also fall on downbeats, with the remaining tones in the scale occurring on the upbeat (given that the scale is played ascending or descending; i.e., no intervallic skips are played). As such, many heptatonic scale
s may be modified by the addition of an eighth passing tone to accomplish this same effect; however, the modifier "bebop" is reserved to indicate those scales most frequently used—and popularized—during the bebop era (and/or by modern practitioners of the bebop genre).
and has a chromatic passing tone between the 7th and the root
. This scale is often used over dominant 7th chords
and all extended dominant chords, and the ii V chord progressions. "When someone says they're playing 'the bebop scale,' this is the one they're talking about."
and has a chromatic passing tone between the minor 3rd and the perfect 4th. It is a mode of the bebop mixolydian scale.
and has a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th notes. This scale is often used over major 6th chords
and major 7th 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.
Jazz improvisation
Jazz improvisation is an important aspect of jazz. Basically, improvisation is composing on the spot and coming up with melodies off the top of one's head. Traditionally, jazz improvisation was distinguished from other forms of music improvisation by its chordal complexity, often exhibiting ii V...
and are derived from the modes of the major scale
Major scale
In music theory, the major scale or Ionian scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, ", the "Do" in the parenthesis at...
, the melodic minor scale, and the harmonic 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 chromatic
Chromaticism
Chromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic pitches and chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. Chromaticism is in contrast or addition to tonality or diatonicism...
passing tone. In general, bebop scales consist of traditional scales with an added passing tone placed such that when the scale is begun on a chord tone and on the downbeat, all other chord tones will also fall on downbeats, with the remaining tones in the scale occurring on the upbeat (given that the scale is played ascending or descending; i.e., no intervallic skips are played). As such, many heptatonic scale
Heptatonic scale
A heptatonic scale is a musical scale with seven pitches per octave. Among the most famous of these are the major scale, C D E F G A B C; the melodic minor scale, C D E F G A B C ascending, C B A G F E D C descending; the harmonic minor scale, C D E F G A B C; and a scale variously known as the...
s may be modified by the addition of an eighth passing tone to accomplish this same effect; however, the modifier "bebop" is reserved to indicate those scales most frequently used—and popularized—during the bebop era (and/or by modern practitioners of the bebop genre).
Bebop dominant scale
The bebop dominant scale is derived from the Mixolydian modeMixolydian mode
Mixolydian mode may refer to one of three things: the name applied to one of the ancient Greek harmoniai or tonoi, based on a particular octave species or scale; one of the medieval church modes; a modern musical mode or diatonic scale, related to the medieval mode.-Greek Mixolydian:The idea of a...
and has a chromatic passing tone between the 7th and the root
Root (chord)
In music theory, the root of a chord is the note or pitch upon which a triadic chord is built. For example, the root of the major triad C-E-G is C....
. This scale is often used over dominant 7th chords
Dominant seventh chord
In music theory, a dominant seventh chord, or major minor seventh chord,is a chord composed of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. It can be also viewed as a major triad with an additional minor seventh...
and all extended dominant chords, and the ii V chord progressions. "When someone says they're playing 'the bebop scale,' this is the one they're talking about."
Bebop Dorian scale
The bebop Dorian scale is derived from the Dorian modeDorian mode
Due to historical confusion, Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different musical modes or diatonic scales, the Greek, the medieval, and the modern.- Greek Dorian mode :...
and has a chromatic passing tone between the minor 3rd and the perfect 4th. It is a mode of the bebop mixolydian scale.
Bebop major scale
The bebop major scale is derived from the Ionian modeMajor scale
In music theory, the major scale or Ionian scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, ", the "Do" in the parenthesis at...
and has a chromatic passing tone between the 5th and 6th notes. This scale is often used over major 6th chords
Sixth chord
A sixth chord may be any of several kinds of chord depending on the use of the term in classical music and popular music. The original meaning of the term is a chord in first inversion, in other words with its third in the bass and its root a sixth above it...
and major 7th chords
Major seventh chord
In music, a major seventh chord is any nondominant seventh chord where the "third" note is a major third above the root.Most typically, major seventh chord refers to where the "seventh" note is a major seventh above the root . This is more precisely known as the major/major seventh chord, and it...
.
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 chordsSixth chord
A sixth chord may be any of several kinds of chord depending on the use of the term in classical music and popular music. The original meaning of the term is a chord in first inversion, in other words with its third in the bass and its root a sixth above it...
.
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
Roni Ben-Hur
Roni Ben-Hur is a Tunisian-Israeli bebop jazz guitarist who emigrated to the United States in 1985. His third CD, Anna's Dance, was rated by The Village Voice as one of the best jazz CDs of 2001...
's book Talk Jazz: A Comprehensive Collection of Bebop Studies, which is derived from the work of Barry Harris
Barry Harris
Barry Doyle Harris is an American bebop jazz pianist and educator.-Biography:Harris left Detroit for New York City in 1960...
. 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 7) 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. The Bebop Harmonic Minor scale is a mode of the Bebop Major scale; and is also known as the Bebop Natural Minor scale (as listed in Mark Levine's The Drop 2 Book).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.