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Scale · Reference entry

B♭ Minor Bebop Scale

Minor Bebop Scale · B♭ – C – D♭ – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ · intervals P1-M2-m3-M3-P4-P5-M6-m7

The B♭ Minor Bebop Scale contains the notes B♭, C, D♭, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. Its step pattern is W-H-H-H-W-W-H-W. A Dorian with a chromatic passing tone between the 3rd and 4th — the bebop minor scale.

At the keyboard

Bb · C · Db · D · Eb · F · G · Ab
Flashcards · Scale
Three questions on B♭ Minor Bebop Scale
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The B♭ Minor Bebop scale contains eight notes: B♭, C, D♭, D, E♭, F, G, and A♭. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-H-H-H-W-W-H-W.

B♭ Minor Bebop Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1RootB♭P1
2Major 2ndCM2
♭3Minor 3rdD♭m3
3Major 3rdDM3
4Perfect 4thE♭P4
5Perfect 5thFP5
6Major 6thGM6
♭7Minor 7thA♭m7
8OctaveB♭P8

Key Signature

The B♭ Minor 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

B♭D♭E♭A♭

B♭ Minor Bebop Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the notes of the B♭ Minor Bebop Scale on piano?
The B♭ Minor Bebop Scale uses the notes B♭ – C – D♭ – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the Bb Minor Bebop Scale?
The Bb Minor Bebop Scale contains eight notes: Bb – C – Db – D – Eb – F – G – Ab. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does Bb Minor Bebop have?
The Bb Minor Bebop Scale shares the key signature of its relative major, Db Major5 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭. The remaining alterations are written as accidentals: D♮, G♮.
What is the relative major of Bb Minor Bebop?
The relative major of Bb Minor Bebop is Db Major. Both scales share the same key signature and the same seven notes — the difference is which note feels like "home." Switching between a minor key and its relative major is one of the most common ways composers shift mood without changing the underlying notes.
What chords are in the key of Bb Minor Bebop?
The seven diatonic chords in the key of Bb Minor Bebop are: i – Bb Minor, ii° – C Diminished, III – Db Major, iv – Eb Minor, v – F Minor, VI – Gb Major, VII – Ab Major. A classic progression in Bb Minor Bebop is i – VI – iv – v (Bb Minor → Gb Major → Eb Minor → F Minor).
What is the parallel major of Bb Minor Bebop?
The parallel major of Bb Minor Bebop is Bb Major. "Parallel" means same root note, opposite mode — the two scales differ by three notes (the third, sixth, and seventh are lowered in minor). Borrowing chords from the parallel key is a popular way to add color to a progression.
What does the Bb Minor Bebop Scale sound like?
The Bb Minor 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.

Related Tools

Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this scale page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    C. P. E. Bach(1753)

    Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Hanon, Charles-Louis(1873)

    The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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