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    Bebop Scale Basics

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    Sunil Kamat
    The Be-bop scale has both the b7 and the natural 7th in the scale. This extra note in the scale allows improvisors to always be landing on chord-tones. "Rotations" are notes that encompass a "target note" and draw it out from above and below.

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    Bebop Scale Basics

    Uploaded by

    Sunil Kamat
    9K views3 pages
    The Be-bop scale has both the b7 and the natural 7th in the scale. This extra note in the scale allows improvisors to always be landing on chord-tones. "Rotations" are notes that encompass a "target note" and draw it out from above and below.

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    The Be-bop scale has both the b7 and the natural 7th in the scale. This extra note in the scale allows improvisors to always be landing on chord-tones. "Rotations" are notes that encompass a "target note" and draw it out from above and below.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    9K views3 pages

    Bebop Scale Basics

    Uploaded by

    Sunil Kamat
    The Be-bop scale has both the b7 and the natural 7th in the scale. This extra note in the scale allows improvisors to always be landing on chord-tones. "Rotations" are notes that encompass a "target note" and draw it out from above and below.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3
    At a glance
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    The key takeaways are that the Be-Bop scale contains both the b7 and natural 7th scale degrees, allowing players to always land on chord tones when improvising. It also discusses the importance of rotations and connectors in creating smooth Be-Bop lines.

    A Be-Bop scale is a major scale with an added b7 scale degree, making it useful for playing over dominant 7th chords. This extra note allows for more chord tones to be hit when improvising.

    The three basic rotations in Be-Bop scales are R1 (rotation to the 1st scale degree), R3 (rotation to the 3rd scale degree), and R5 (rotation to the 5th scale degree).

    (Copyright@The Jazz Education Store 2006 / Purchase the complete Ultimate Jazz Tool Kit and matching Ultimate

    MusicWorkbook at http://www.jazz-studies.com)

    Be-Bop Scale Basics


    What is a Be-Bop Scale?

    by Scott Wilson

    The Be-bop scale can be easily thought of as a Major Scale with an added b7 scale degree. Because of the added b7 scale degree, the be-bop scale is used over dominant chords which are spelled with chord tones 1, 3, 5, b7.

    "What's so special about the be-bop scale and why is it so useful in jazz?"
    Many people ask the above question. For starters, the be-bop scale has both the b7 and the natural 7th in the scale. This extra note in the scale allows improvisors to always be landing on chord-tones when playing the scale in eighth-notes or sixteen-notes (See example below). Notice that all the chord-tones fall on the downbeats. The downbeats spell an F7 and the scale being used is the F Be-bop Scale.

    b n b & c b
    F7
    F B e-bop Scale Jazz Gem * Notice that the chord-tones always fall on downbeats (which, in jazz, is the longer of the two eighth-notes). With the long downbeats always falling on chord tones this helps clarifiy the sound of the chord.

    Putting Together Burning Be-bop Lines: It's Easy


    Understanding the 3 basic ROTATIONS!
    To understand the ways the Be-bop Scale can be used in jazz to facilitate soloing and connecting ideas, you need to investigate "rotations." In jazz, "rotations" are notes that encompass a "target note" and draw it out by approaching the note from above and below. R1 = Rotation to the first scale degree. Although this rotation ends on the first scale degree, it starts on the 3rd scale degree and approaches the first scale degree from a half-step below (E to F).

    & ..
    R3

    R1

    b
    4

    b2

    2 #2

    .. .. ..

    R3 = Rotation to the 3rd scale degree. Although this rotation ends on the 3rd scale degree, it starts on the 5th scale degree and appoaches the 3rd scale degree from a half-step below (G# to A).

    & .. b
    R5
    b7 6

    #
    5 #4

    R5 = Rotation to the 5th scale degree. Although this rotation ends on the 5th scale degree, it starts on the 7b scale degree and appoaches the 5th scale degree from a half-step below (B to C).

    .. b &
    6 5
    3

    Be-Bop Scale Basics- page 2


    Understanding the 3 Basic CONNECTORS!
    Connectors are what make rotations string-together to create long be-bop lines. Below are 3 basic connectors.

    You can use these to connect rotations R1, R3, and R5

    b & .. b
    C2 = 3rd to the 7b Up.

    b b n b b &
    C1 = The Be-bop Scale

    .. ..

    & .. b b
    Now lets makes some great be-bop lines.
    Turn on a medium tempo F Blues and try the following exercise.

    C3 = 3rd to the b7 down.

    b n & .. b
    Next, loop the b3 to b7 up for a few choruses.

    First just play the F be-bop scale as smooth as possible for a few choruses.

    b b ..
    Next, loop 3rd to the b7 down for a few choruses

    .. b b .. .. & b .. b .. b b &
    Next, pair together the 3rd to the b7 up and 3rd to the b7 down. Play this for a few choruses until it feels smooth.

    b b ..

    & .. b n b b # n b b # ..
    R1
    Connector is Be-bop Scale

    Next, loop R1 to R3. Use the F Be-bop Scale as the connector.

    R3

    R1

    Connector is Be-bop Scale

    R3

    Be-Bop Scale Basics - page 3


    3 b b # b .. & .. b n b b #

    Next, loop R1 to R3 to R5 to R3 to R1 (your are rotating to chord-tones 1, 3, 5, 3, 1).

    R1

    Connector is Be-bop Scale

    R3

    Connector is 3rd to 7b up

    R5

    R3

    R1

    3 b b b 3 n b & .. # b # ..

    Next, try looping R5 to R3.

    R5

    R3

    Connector is 3rd to b7 up

    R5

    R3

    Connector is 3rd to b7 up

    b 3 n b & .. b # n b b # ..
    Connector is 3rd to b7 up

    Next, Try combining other combinations (see below).

    R5

    R3

    Connector is 3rd to b7 down

    R3

    b # b b b b .. b b n b # n b .. &
    Connector is Be-bop Scale

    R3

    Connector is 3rd to b7 down

    R1

    Connector is Be-bop Scale

    R3

    R1

    This should get you started with regards to understanding how the Be-bop Scale creates be-bop lines. Now, for your own practice, try to string-together the following combinations in your own way. Remember to use the Connectors to move from Rotation to Rotation. Also keep in mind that you can start a musical idea with a Connector (i.e. starting with the 3rd to the b7 up).

    #1 R1 to R5 (loop it with repeats until it is smooth.) #2 R3 to R1 to R5 (loop it with repeats until it is smooth.) #3 R5 to R5 (loop it with repeats until it is smooth). #4 Invent several combinations yourself and play them for your class/friends/teacher.

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