Bb 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
- Bb 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
1Bbroot
2Cmajor 2nd
b3Dbminor 3rd
3Dmajor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
5Fperfect 5th
6Gmajor 6th
b7Abminor 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
- BbWCHDbHDHEbWFWGHAb
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBbpoint of resttonic
IIIDdefines modal qualitythird
VFsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
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 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.