B Bebop
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Bebop Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Bebop scale is the dominant bebop scale, an eight-note extension of the Mixolydian mode. On Bass, the notes are B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, A#. By adding a chromatic passing tone, it ensures that the most important notes land on the strong beats, allowing jazz players to create fluid, professional-sounding lines. Commonly used in Jazz, Bebop, Swing, Hard Bop. Notable players include Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson. Use over dominant 7th chords. The added passing tone ensures that the root, 3rd, 5th, and b7 fall on downbeats during eighth-note runs — the 'trick' that makes bebop sound professional.
Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 8
Formula: W-W-H-W-W-H-H-H
Number of notes: 8
Musical Character
Adds a chromatic passing tone (natural 7) to Mixolydian, creating an 8-note scale where chord tones always land on strong beats. This is the secret to authentic bebop phrasing.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Bebop, Swing, Hard Bop
Notable players: Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson
How to Use the B Bebop Scale
Use over dominant 7th chords. The added passing tone ensures that the root, 3rd, 5th, and b7 fall on downbeats during eighth-note runs — the 'trick' that makes bebop sound professional.
Origin & Background
Codified during the bebop revolution of the 1940s by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. The chromatic addition solves the rhythmic displacement problem of 7-note scales in 4/4 time.
Related Scales
Bebop is the Mixolydian with added chromatic passing tone (natural 7th). View B Mixolydian scale
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- I – VI7 – II7 – V (Ragtime Cycle)Jazz / Soul — Playful & Vintage
The B Bebop scale contains 8 notes (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.