C Bebop Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Drop B tuning — fretboard diagram
C Bebop in Drop B — Notes and Intervals
The C Bebop scale is the dominant bebop scale, an eight-note extension of the Mixolydian mode. On Guitar, the notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb, B. By adding a chromatic passing tone, it ensures that the most important notes land on the strong beats, allowing jazz players to create fluid, professional-sounding lines. Commonly used in Jazz, Bebop, Swing, Hard Bop. Notable players include Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson. Use over dominant 7th chords. The added passing tone ensures that the root, 3rd, 5th, and b7 fall on downbeats during eighth-note runs — the 'trick' that makes bebop sound professional.
Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb, B
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 8
Formula: W-W-H-W-W-H-H-H
Number of notes: 8
Tuning: Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)