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How to Play Jazz Guitar Scales

The Bebop scales are variations that distinguish jazz from rock and blues. Their development is credited to jazz great, saxophonist Charlie Parker; the scale name credited to David Baker. Bebop music is intellectual, quick-rhythm style jazz that layers harmonies in intricate levels. Although Bebop scales were developed over higher ranges of chromatic scales, the basis of the Bebop scales are 8 notes with 1 or 2 added tones. The most common of the Bebop scales are the Bebop Dominant scale, which is based off the Mixolydian mode, and the Major Bebop scale, based off the Ionian mode.

Instructions

  1. Bebop Dominant Scale

    • 1

      Play a major scale in the key of C (no sharps or flats).

    • 2

      Play a Mixolydian mode ascending in the key of C but beginning with the note G. (A Mixolydian mode is one that is based on the 5th of a major scale. Thus, if you were playing a C Major scale with no sharps and flats, you would start with the 5th of C, which is G if you count C as 1, D as 2, E as 3, F as 4, G as 5.)

    • 3

      Add a flatted 7 note as you descend the scale by determining what note is the next to the last one on the ascension. (In the Mixolydian mode in the key of G based off C major, you would count C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Flat the next to the last note -the 7- which would be B, adding a B flat.)

    Bebop Major Scale

    • 4

      Play a major scale in the key of C (no sharps or flats).

    • 5

      Play an Ionian mode ascending in the key of C. The Ionian mode adds a chromatic note after the fifth note. Thus, in the scale of C major you would again count C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, the fifth note is the G.

    • 6

      Raise the G a half step to add a G sharp to add to your scale.

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