B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale
The B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale is made of the notes B♭, C♭, D♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭. It has 8 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
Bebop · 8 notes
- 1B♭
- ♭2C♭
- ♭3D♭
- 3D
- 4E♭
- 5F
- ♭6G♭
- ♭7A♭
PatternH – W – H – H – W – H – W – W(W = whole step, H = half step)
Eight-note scales: the added note makes chord tones land on the strong beats. Degrees are shown relative to the major scale: ♭3 is the third lowered by a half step, ♯4 the fourth raised.
Mode and chords
The bebop major started from its third degree: a Phrygian scale with the major 3rd added as a passing note.
The B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale is mode 3 of the G♭ bebop major scale: the same notes, starting from degree 3. G♭ bebop major scale →
Put it into practice
The scale played in thirds over one octave: one of the exercises MEG generates from this scale.
This scale is not part of the demo: in the MEG app you will find it in every key, with 24 patterns.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the notes of the B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale?
- The notes are B♭, C♭, D♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭.
- What is the pattern of the B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale?
- The sequence of steps is H – W – H – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step); compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Which scale is the B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale a mode of?
- It is mode 3 of the G♭ bebop major scale.
- Which chords is the B♭ bebop major – Phrygian mode scale used over?
- It is used over B♭7, B♭7♯5, B♭m7: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.