C Bebop Minor Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
C Bebop Minor in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The C Bebop Minor scale is a specialized eight-note scale for minor-key jazz. On Guitar, it contains the notes C, D, Eb, E, F, G, A, Bb. It adds a chromatic note to the Dorian mode to maintain rhythmic drive and harmonic clarity during fast improvisations over minor seventh chords. Commonly used in Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon. Use over m7 chords in jazz. The chromatic addition keeps the phrasing rhythmically clean during fast improvisation.
Notes: C, D, Eb, E, F, G, A, Bb
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 b8
Formula: W-H-H-H-W-W-H-W
Number of notes: 8
Tuning: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- C Bebop Minor in Standard Tuning
- C Bebop Minor in Drop D
- C Bebop Minor in DADGAD
- C Bebop Minor in Open G
- C Bebop Minor in Baritone (B Standard)
- C Bebop Minor in 7-string
- C Bebop Minor in 8-string
- C Bebop Minor in Drop C
- C Bebop Minor in Drop B
- C Bebop Minor in Half Step Down
- C Bebop Minor in Open E
- C Bebop Minor in Open A
- C Bebop Minor in Double Drop D
- C Bebop Minor in Open C