Ab Bebop melodic minor
Melodic minor with a passing raised 5th; the eighth note evens out lines over minor chords.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Ab Bebop melodic minor
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 8
- Step formula
- W – H – W – W – H – H – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-1-2-2-1-1-2-1
Notes & degrees
1Abroot
2Bbmajor 2nd
b3Cbminor 3rd
4Dbperfect 4th
5Ebperfect 5th
#5Eaug 5th
6Fmajor 6th
7Gmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Melodic minor with a passing raised 5th; the eighth note evens out lines over minor chords.
- Application in music
- Passing #5 supplies an eighth degree for even bebop lines over minor and minor-major chords.
- Interval formula
- AbWBbHCbWDbWEbHEHFWG
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IAbpoint of resttonic
IIICbdefines modal qualitythird
VEbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIGG
IAbAb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIICbCb
IVDbDb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IAbAb
IIBbBb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Ab Bebop melodic minor looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.