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Scale type

Minor Bebop Scales on Piano

The minor bebop scale adds a chromatic passing tone between the ♭7 and root of the Dorian mode, creating an eight-note scale optimized for improvising over minor 7th chords. Like all bebop scales, the extra note ensures that chord tones (root, ♭3, 5th, ♭7th) land on strong beats during continuous eighth-note lines.

Each key below opens the full reference entry — keyboard diagram, audio, fingerings, and notation.

Formula: W–H–W–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: Minor, flowing, bebop, sophisticated
Also known as: Bebop Dorian, Dorian bebop scale
Dorian is the base: The minor bebop scale is built on Dorian (not natural minor) because Dorian is the standard minor scale in jazz — it has the natural 6th that works cleanly over ii–V–I progressions. The added major 7th between ♭7 and the octave is the chromatic connector that aligns chord tones with strong beats.

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All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.

Minor Bebop Scale in All 18 Keys

Select any key to see the full scale with notes, fingering, audio, and practice tips.

C Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: C – D – E♭ – E – F – G – A – B♭
C1C2C3CDEFGACC6C7C8E♭B♭
C♯ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: C♯ – D♯ – E – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B
C1C2C3C4EE♯BC5C6C7C8C♯D♯F♯G♯A♯C♯
D♭ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭
C1C2C3C♭C4F♭FC5C6C7C8D♭E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭
D Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: D – E – F – F♯ – G – A – B – C
C1C2C3C4DEFGABCDC6C7C8F♯
D♯ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – F♯♯ – G♯ – A♯ – C♯ – B♯
C1C2C3C4E♯F♯♯C5B♯C7C8D♯F♯G♯A♯C♯D♯
E♭ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: E♭ – F – G♭ – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭
C1C2C3C4FGCC6C7C8E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭E♭
E Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: E – F♯ – G – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D
C1C2C3C4EGABC5DEC6C7C8F♯G♯C♯
F Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: F – G – A♭ – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭
C1C2C3C4FGACDFC6C7C8A♭B♭E♭
F♯ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: F♯ – G♯ – A – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E
C1C2C3C4ABC5EC6C7C8F♯G♯A♯C♯D♯F♯
G♭ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: C♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭♭ – B♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭
C1C2C3C♭C4B♭♭C5F♭C6C7C8G♭A♭B♭D♭E♭G♭
G Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: G – A – B♭ – B – C – D – E – F
C1C2C3C4GABCDEFGC6C7C8B♭
G♯ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – B♯
C1C2C3C4BC5E♯B♯C7C8G♯A♯C♯D♯F♯G♯
A♭ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: C♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭
C1C2C3C♭C4CFC6C7C8A♭B♭D♭E♭G♭A♭
A Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: A – B – C – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G
C1C2C3C4ABCDEGAC6C7C8C♯F♯
A♯ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: A♯ – C♯ – C♯♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯♯ – G♯ – B♯
C1C2C3C4C5C♯♯E♯F♯♯B♯C7C8A♯C♯D♯G♯A♯
B♭ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: B♭ – C – D♭ – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭
C1C2C3C4CDFGC6C7C8B♭D♭E♭A♭B♭
B Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: B – C♯ – D – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A
C1C2C3C4BC5DEABC6C7C8C♯D♯F♯G♯
C♭ Minor Bebop ScaleNotes: C♭ – D♭ – E♭♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭♭
C1C2C3C♭C4C♭C5E♭♭F♭B♭♭C6C7C8D♭E♭G♭A♭
Want the full theory? Intervals, construction, and how this scale connects to others.What Is a Scale? ›