Bb Bebop major
A major scale with a passing raised 5th; eight notes support even eighth-note lines.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Bb Bebop major
- Family
- Exotic scales
- Note count
- 8
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – H – H – W – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-1-1-2-1
Notes & degrees
1Bbroot
2Cmajor 2nd
3Dmajor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
5Fperfect 5th
#5F#aug 5th
6Gmajor 6th
7Amajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A major scale with a passing raised 5th; eight notes support even eighth-note lines.
- Application in music
- In continuous eighth notes beginning on a chord tone, passing #5 helps place I6 or Imaj7 chord tones on strong beats.
- Interval formula
- BbWCWDHEbWFHF#HGWA
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbpoint of resttonic
IIIDdefines modal qualitythird
VFsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIAA
IBbBb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIDD
IVEbEb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IBbBb
IICC
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Bb Bebop major 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.