E Bebop Locrian Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
E Bebop Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Bebop Locrian scale is a modern bebop variation designed for half-diminished chords. On Mandolin, the notes are E, F, G, A, Bb, B, C, D. 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: E, F, G, A, Bb, B, C, D
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 E 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 E Bebop Locrian on Mandolin
Begin by locating E on your instrument and play through the 8 notes of the Bebop Locrian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The E Bebop Locrian scale contains 1 flat (Bb). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the E Bebop Locrian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on E to let the characteristic intervals of the Bebop Locrian scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in post-bop contexts.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the E 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 E Locrian scale
The E Bebop Locrian scale contains 8 notes (E, F, G, A, Bb, B, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Bebop Locrian
The E 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 E Bebop Locrian Further
- Browse chord progressions
- E Bebop Locrian on Guitar
- E Bebop Locrian on Ukulele
- E Bebop Locrian on Bass
- E Bebop Locrian on Piano