A Bebop Locrian Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A Bebop Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Bebop Locrian scale is a modern bebop variation designed for half-diminished chords. On Banjo (5-String), the notes are A, Bb, C, D, Eb, E, F, G. It provides a chromatic bridge that helps musicians maintain rhythmic momentum while soloing over highly dissonant and difficult chord changes. Commonly used in Modern Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion. Notable players include John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Steve Coleman. Use over m7b5 chords. Maintains bebop rhythmic alignment in the most dissonant harmonic context.
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, E, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5d, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 b7 b8
Formula: H-W-W-H-H-H-W-W
Number of notes: 8
Musical Character
A chromatic bridge added to the Locrian mode for maintaining rhythmic momentum over half-diminished chords — the most challenging bebop scale.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Modern Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion
Notable players: John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Steve Coleman
How to Use the A Bebop Locrian Scale
Use over m7b5 chords. Maintains bebop rhythmic alignment in the most dissonant harmonic context.
Origin & Background
A modern bebop extension for navigating half-diminished chord changes with the same fluidity as standard bebop scales.
How to Play A Bebop Locrian on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating A on your instrument and play through the 8 notes of the Bebop Locrian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A Bebop Locrian scale contains 2 flats (Bb, Eb). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the A Bebop Locrian scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 100 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 8 notes of the scale.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Bebop Locrian scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the A Bebop Locrian scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 8 notes before building speed. Aim for a complex quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Bebop Locrian is the Locrian with added chromatic passing tone. View A Locrian scale
The A Bebop Locrian scale contains 8 notes (A, Bb, C, D, Eb, E, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Bebop Locrian
The A Bebop Locrian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Bebop Locrian Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A Bebop Locrian on Guitar
- A Bebop Locrian on Ukulele
- A Bebop Locrian on Bass
- A Bebop Locrian on Piano