E Bebop Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
What chords fit over E Bebop?
Open E Bebop HarmonizerE Bebop Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Bebop scale is the dominant bebop scale, an eight-note extension of the Mixolydian mode. On Ukulele, the notes are E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, D#. 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: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, D#
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
Musical Character
Adds a chromatic passing tone (natural 7) to Mixolydian, creating an 8-note scale where chord tones always land on strong beats. This is the secret to authentic bebop phrasing.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Bebop, Swing, Hard Bop
Notable players: Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson
How to Use the E Bebop Scale
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.
Origin & Background
Codified during the bebop revolution of the 1940s by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. The chromatic addition solves the rhythmic displacement problem of 7-note scales in 4/4 time.
How to Play E Bebop on Ukulele
On ukulele, find E on the fret 4 area, and work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 8 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The E Bebop scale contains 4 sharps (F#, G#, C#, D#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the E Bebop scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 100 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 8 notes of the scale.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on E to let the characteristic intervals of the Bebop scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in swing contexts.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the E Bebop scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know. Aim for a swinging quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Bebop is the Mixolydian with added chromatic passing tone (natural 7th). View E Mixolydian scale
The E Bebop scale contains 8 notes (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Bebop
The E Bebop scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore E Bebop Further
- Harmonize the E Bebop scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- E Bebop on Guitar
- E Bebop on Bass
- E Bebop on Piano