Bebop Scale Magic

From Digging Deeper Video #47

In Digging Deeper videos #21 and #23, we talked about Major Bebop Scales, and Dominant
Bebop Scales. We discussed their construction, and the fact that we can actually start on any
of the chord tones of these scales (on the beat). When we do, ALL the other chord tones will
magically line up on the beat as well. Pretty cool, but that was just basic magic. It gets better.
The advanced magic for today is that you can also CHANGE DIRECTION on any chord tone
of a Bebop Scale. When you do, all the following chord tones will still magically stay on the beat
(if you began on the beat). This is a huge thing. This immediately give us 1) flowing 8th note
lines, 2) chromatic passing tones, 3) chord tones on the beats, and 4) the ability to create
interest with changes in direction. Some serious magic, right?

#1 C Major BeBop Scale (with both the natural 5 and #5).

Notice the 1, 3, 5 and
CŒ„Š7 6 all land on the beat
4
& 4 œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ nœ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
1 2 3 4 5 #5 6 7 8 7 6 #5 5 4 3 2 1

#2 A great "etude" where we change direction on chord tones (the 1, 3, 5 or 6).

CŒ„Š7
≤ ≤ ≤ ≤ ≤ ≤œ ≤ œ œ ≤œ œ ≤œ œ œ œ ≤œ œ ≤œ œ
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œnœ#œ œ œ œ œ œ
≤
œ#œ ≤œ œn≤œ#œ œ œ œ The "V" symbol is just showing us where we
& Œ Ó change direction on a chord tone. It isn't some
weird articulation.

#3 "Night And Day" (Cole Porter) - B section

E¨Œ„Š7 CŒ„Š7
b œ n œ œ œ b œ b œ œ œ bœ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
& œ œ nœ b œ nœ œ œ #œ nœ Ó
E¨Œ„Š7
œnœb œb œ œ œ œ
CŒ„Š7
b œ œ œ œ nœ b œ œ
& b œ œ#œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
© Atonal Licks Music • Jeff Antoniuk
DiggingDeeperJazz@gmail.com