Dominant Bebop Scale Video Lesson

Posted on by freejazzlessons

In today’s jazz scale lesson we’re going to explore a very sweet jazz scale.

You’ll be able to add it into your playing right away when we’re done.

This powerful scale is known as thedominant bebop scale.

This 8 note scale can actually can be thought of as a chord and a scale at the same time if you use it properly. Pretty interesting concept right? 

This is a follow up lesson to our major bebop scale lesson. (video lesson, tips, and notation below.)

Let’s learn how to add this scale into your  jazz improvisation right now!

The Dominant Bebop Scale Action Plan

To get started learning first watch the video below so you can best understand how to use this jazz scale and hear it in action.

Then scroll down and check out the notation and extra tips!

Jazz Scale Theory

The passing note makes all the difference! Keep reading to learn how to use it effectively.

6 Bebop Scale And Jazz Improvisation Concepts

1. This scale is essentially the mixolydian mode with 1 chromatic passing note between scale degrees b7 and 1.

2. A measure of 4/4 has 8 eighth notes in it. The mixolydian mode has 7 notes in it. Bebop scales have 8 notes.

3. By adding this chromatic passing note, bebop scales will always have chord tones happening on the strong beats (beats 1, 2, 3, 4).

4. Passing notes happen on the off beats (the &’s of the beat).

5. You can also use this scale over the II and V chords in a II-V-I chord progressions (2-5-1).

6. So, in the key of G you could play a D dominant bebop scale over the Amin7 and D7 chords

if the chord progressions was Amin7 -D7 – Gmaj7.

Using This Scale In Other Styles Of Music

- You could also play this scale over a 1 chord dominant groove. For example, if you were soloing on a James Brown tune.

- You can even hear this dominant bebop scale in the playing of many jam bands.

- I’m talking about guys like Trey Anastasio from Phish, Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead. They sound great!

- The jam band guys tend to use the bebop scale playing over modal type chord progressions.

More Jazz Scale Resources

- If you want to learn more about jazz scales there are plenty of lessons on this site. You can check out this major bebop scale lesson or this altered scale lesson.

- I also have a whole lesson where I teach more about the mixolydian mode and major chord scales.

Gold Medal Practice Challenge

On a final note for today if you haven’t checked out the Gold Medal Jazz Practice Challenge I encourage you to do so now.

You can learn about the newpractice challenge I set up and also find out how you can join in.

I will be posting an update on the practice challenge, answering tons of questions, and talking much more about practice techniques on the site later this week.

This will only be posted on the site and not be sent through email. So, please be sure to keep checking back. Have a great day everybody! 

Update: You can now find all the questions answered in this article right here.

If you enjoyed this lesson and found it useful please leave a comment below.

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