Major Bebop Scale

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This scale, like the dominant bebop scale, was used by Charlie Parker and popularized by David Baker. It consists of a major scale with an additional augmented fifth as a passing tone between the perfect fifth and the major sixth. It is used over major chords, including major seventh and major sixth chords:

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When played in descending eighth notes over a major chord, the tones of the major sixth chord fall on the beats:

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You may take advantage of this in constructing a melodic line:

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As with the dominant bebop scale, one could use this scale over any chord diatonic to the key, but it is most commonly used over a ii-V-I progression:

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The major bebop scale can also be used over the half-diminished vii chord:

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Thus, like the dominant bebop scale, the major bebop scale can be used over all four chord types. And like the dominant bebop scale, we rarely discuss the modes of the major bebop scale, but instead say that (for instance), the C major bebop scale is used over Cmaj7, Dm7, G7, or Bm7b5.

Note the major bebop scale can also be used over the minor seventh vi chord:

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This produces a scale that resembles the natural minor scale but with an added leading tone. That is, it contains both a minor seventh and a major seventh. It may therefore be used over minor chords of any type or function:

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Copyright 2000 Outside Shore Music
Authored by Marc Sabatella

Major Bebop Scale