Dominant Bebop Scales on Piano

The dominant bebop scale is the most commonly used bebop scale — a Mixolydian mode with an added chromatic passing tone between the ♭7 and the root. This eight-note scale keeps the chord tones of a dominant 7th chord (root, 3rd, 5th, ♭7th) on strong beats during eighth-note runs, producing the characteristic flowing sound of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and the entire bebop tradition.

Formula: W–W–H–W–W–H–H–H

Intervals: P1–M2–M3–P4–P5–M6–m7–M7–P8

Scale degrees: 1–2–3–4–5–6–♭7–7

Sound: Classic bebop, flowing, harmonically clear

Also known as: Bebop dominant, Mixolydian bebop, the bebop scale

The most important bebop scale: When jazz musicians say "the bebop scale" without qualification, they usually mean this one. It works over any dominant 7th chord and can be used over major chords too. The added natural 7th between ♭7 and the octave is the chromatic passing tone that makes the math work — eight notes, chord tones on the beats.