Added by on 2013-07-17

Learn the “WHAT” and the “WHY” of the simple concept behind the so-called bebop scales… More lessons on www.jazzguitarlessons.net The bebop scales are derived from rhythms. Historically, bebop musicians started to add notes to “regular” diatonic scales. The added notes permit better “alignement” of the notes with the 4 time signature. For more lessons, please visit : www.jazzguitarlessons.net Video Rating: 4 / 5

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25 Comments

  • Petr Mogilevsky 11 years ago

    that was helpful. thanks a lot.

  • jazzguitarlessonsnet 11 years ago

    First, it is not A# … the note is Bb! (We’re in the key of F, right?) … then when we add a passing tone, it’s the “B natural” note. You could add passing tones also on strong parts of the beat (if you chose a different note, say). You have to experiment and see how the scale resolve, and what harmony they spell. There’s not a good or a bad way to do it … just let you ears select what you prefer.

  • ipiZmaj86 11 years ago

    I’m not sure that you explained right. For instance, “bebop tone” for C Dominant would be A# not because to add some random notes to fill gap of 7 tones, but because A# is a 7th in C dominant cord(CEGA#). So what are u actually doing, is that you are “building bridge” between to A and tone H in C major scale. But you are right, you can add any passing tone, but only on the weak parts of beat.

  • plimsbury 11 years ago

    Good stuff, is right!

  • jazzguitarlessonsnet 11 years ago

    Absolutely. Some passing notes will “bring out” cool (or un-cool) tones in the rest of the scale because of the way rhythms emphasize them. We have to choose wisely!

  • eddieisfiction 11 years ago

    While I know the author of the video knows this… But you don’t necessarily have to use B, or should I say a major 7th rather than a mixolydian 7th. Different passing tones you can use on a scale. Question you have to ask yourself is, what other scales or chords you want to use in your song. Try selecting a passing tone that works with you and what you are playing. Something to keep in mind.

  • jazzguitarlessonsnet 11 years ago

    Not quite. We are not “adding a B note to C mixolydian” … it’s best to see it as “adding another (passing) note to C mixolydian to make the timing fit the bar of 4/4″. When you’re refering to D minor -vs- D Dorian, you are still within the real of 7-note scales. See if you can change the D minor (natural) to an 8-note scale by adding a passing tone. Anything works, see what fits best.

  • IronPump89 11 years ago

    adding the B on the C-Mixolydian gives a similar touch like converting the simple D-minor scale to a D-Dorian right? its that maj6 note added that makes the difference between Aeolian and Dorian

  • name policy 11 years ago

    Great. Very direct and easy to pickup. Less talk and more demo–good stuff. Thanks-you!

  • Luis Piña 11 years ago

    Jazz waltz or swing waltz maybe

  • matonguitar 11 years ago

    That is a revelation! Thank you for sharing this!

  • Jamiro Smajic 11 years ago

    Thank you for this simple, yet brilliant explanation, going to watch more vids!

  • mdab0123 11 years ago

    Can you explain the fingerings please? Thanks. Great video by the way! :)

  • 0Heavy0Metal0 11 years ago

    That really made things clique when you explained how the passing note is used to keep the scale in rhythm with the 4/4 time. Every time I would try to play over a Bossa nova backing track I would end up out of time.

  • Todd Pritchard 11 years ago

    Es-137? solid

  • beefcakepanyhose 11 years ago

    beautiful tone

  • Gminor7 11 years ago

    Great lesson.

  • fekinel 11 years ago

    Oops ,I mean 11 tones.

  • fekinel 11 years ago

    C mixolydian

  • fekinel 11 years ago

    Ah , just read some of the comments ,
    “5 choices to make the scale bebop”.
    In the key of C , these would be ,
    Db ,Eb ,F# ,G# , B .
    These are the other notes in the 12 tones available.
    I understand , i love it .
    Thanks again.

  • fekinel 11 years ago

    I’ve just tried this idea using F# (aug 11) , and Db (flat 9) ,
    as well as B (maj 7) as the passing tone.
    Does the ‘passing tone’ always have to be a major 7th
    for it to be a ‘bebop’ scale ?
    Thanks m8.

  • fekinel 11 years ago

    Thanks m8 ,
    another ‘gem of knowledge ‘ for my
    ever expanding collection.

  • jazzguitarlessonsnet 11 years ago

    Yes. In fact what is referred to as “Third Stream” is a mixture of through composed music and the liberty of small ensemble jazz (from the bebop era.) It`s worth reading about it from writers / musicians / scholars such as Gunther Schuller. Musically, Charles Mingus is often referred to as a third stream jazz composer.

  • SimonLeferink 11 years ago

    I think you are talking about a jazz style called the third stream.
    That style has a lot of odd time signatures.

  • jazzguitarlessonsnet 11 years ago

    “Time is of the essence”. Thanks for watching!