Bebop Scales

A Bebop scale is not that mysterious. With the addition of only one note you
can transform a scale you already know into a "Bebop" scale. Why would
you want to do that? One good reason is that doing so adds one more note
to your scale providing you with a true eight note scale. Eight note scales
enable you to place chord tones on the down beat during improvisation
easier than seven note scales. Another benefit of using a Bebop scale is that
it adds chromaticism (more fluidity) and, finally, you're going to sound a lot
smarter than you really are the next time you're out with the gang and you
show them a "Bebop Scale." It's great at parties: "Well, of course, I use
Bebop scales extensively in my improvisational approaches." Lots of wow
factor here ;-)

Heres' the first one: The Major Bebop Scale. Take the major scale/Ionian
mode and add an augmented 5th or G#
C D E F G G# A B C

Minor Bebop Scale
Take a natural minor scale and add a major 3rd interval to it:
C D Eb E F G A Bb C

Bebop Dominant Scale:
Take a normal Mixolydian Mode and add a major 7th interval:
C D E F GA Bb B C

Finally, the Half-Diminished Bebop Scale:
Basically, a Locrian Mode with the addition of a perfect 5th interval:
C Db Eb F Gb G Ab Bb C

Application:

Of course there are a variety of ways to apply Bebop scales to your music.
You'll need to experiment. However I'll make a couple of suggestions: first,
treat the Bebop scale as no different than, say, any other normal major
scale, in the case of the Bebop Major scale. Just think of it as having one
added bit of color. Second, consider how the dom scale adds a note at the
decisive 7th degree and, similarly, how the minor adds a note at the decisive
3rd interval. In the case of the minor, it is the 3rd which defines it and the
7th which determines whether something is dominant. You could use these
scales in interchange situations like major to minor. Finally, look at, for
example, the C Bebop Dominant scale:

C D E F G A Bb B C

Over a progression of, say, D-7 G7 Cmaj7 C7 F7 Bbmaj7 the single Cdom
Bebop scale works great to handle the transition from the Cmaj 7 as I to the
V7/V function: C7--> F7 and works equally as well against the new I
(Bbmaj7) by giving it a Lydian b9 sound (one of my fav sounds). See how
many ways you can make the remaining Bebop Scales strectch into service.
Play them over and over in all keys and burn the sound into your mind.
Think up melodies using the added tonality.

Anyway, give it some thought, experiment, don't be afraid of some passing
notes, and, as always, have fun.

Copyright 2003, Kronosonic. All rights reserved.