B Bebop minor
Dorian with a passing major 3rd; eight notes organise minor bebop lines around strong beats.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- B Bebop minor
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 8
- Step formula
- W – H – H – H – W – W – H – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-1-1-1-2-2-1-2
Notes & degrees
1Broot
2C#major 2nd
b3Dminor 3rd
3D#major 3rd
4Eperfect 4th
5F#perfect 5th
6G#major 6th
b7Aminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Dorian with a passing major 3rd; eight notes organise minor bebop lines around strong beats.
- Application in music
- In continuous eighth notes, the passing major 3rd evens the alternation of chord and non-chord tones over i7.
- Interval formula
- BWC#HDHD#HEWF#WG#HA
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBpoint of resttonic
IIID#defines modal qualitythird
VF#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIID#D#
IVEE
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBB
IIC#C#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how B Bebop 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.