The C Major Bebop scale contains eight notes: C, D, E, F, G, A♭, A, and B. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-H-W-H-H-H-W.
C Major Bebop Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | C | P1 |
| 2 | Major 2nd | D | M2 |
| 3 | Major 3rd | E | M3 |
| 4 | Perfect 4th | F | P4 |
| 5 | Perfect 5th | G | P5 |
| ♭6 | Minor 6th | A♭ | m6 |
| 6 | Major 6th | A | M6 |
| 7 | Major 7th | B | M7 |
| 8 | Octave | C | P8 |
Key Signature
The C Major Bebop Scale doesn’t line up with a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed.
Accidentals
A♭
C Major Bebop Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the C Major Bebop Scale on piano?
The C Major Bebop Scale uses the notes C – D – E – F – G – A♭ – A – B – C. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the C Major Bebop Scale?
The C Major Bebop Scale contains eight notes: C – D – E – F – G – Ab – A – B. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does C Major Bebop have?
The C Major Bebop Scale doesn't correspond to a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed: A♭.
What is the relative minor of C Major Bebop?
The relative minor of C Major Bebop is A Minor. Both scales share the same key signature and the same seven notes — the difference is which note feels like "home." That's why a song in C major and a song in A minor look identical on the staff but feel completely different.
What is the parallel minor of C Major Bebop?
The parallel minor of C Major Bebop is C Minor. "Parallel" means same root, opposite mode — the third, sixth, and seventh are all a half-step lower in the minor version. Modal interchange (borrowing chords from the parallel key) is one of the most useful tricks in pop and jazz writing.
What does the C Major Bebop Scale sound like?
The C Major Bebop Scale has a distinctive sound shaped by its specific interval pattern. Listen to the audio playback above to hear the character on every note.