Eb 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
Eb 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

1Ebroot
2Fmajor 2nd
b3Gbminor 3rd
4Abperfect 4th
5Bbperfect 5th
#5Baug 5th
6Cmajor 6th
7Dmajor 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
Eb
W
F
H
Gb
W
Ab
W
Bb
H
B
H
C
W
D

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IEbpoint of resttonic
IIIGbdefines modal qualitythird
VBbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth

Typical resolutions & tensions

VIIDD
IEbEb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIGbGb
IVAbAb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IEbEb
IIFF
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how Eb Bebop melodic minor looks on guitar.

Explore

Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmEbmajor
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

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Frequently Asked Questions