F 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
F 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

1Froot
2Gmajor 2nd
b3Abminor 3rd
4Bbperfect 4th
5Cperfect 5th
#5C#aug 5th
6Dmajor 6th
7Emajor 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
F
W
G
H
Ab
W
Bb
W
C
H
C#
H
D
W
E

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IFpoint of resttonic
IIIAbdefines modal qualitythird
VCsupports the tonic sonorityfifth

Typical resolutions & tensions

VIIEE
IFF
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIAbAb
IVBbBb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IFF
IIGG
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how F 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#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmFmajor
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
1 flat (Bb)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

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

Open Trainer

Frequently Asked Questions