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The Dorian Bebop Scale | Lesson with Guitar Neck Diagrams and Patterns

The Dorian Bebop scale is a variation of the Dorian mode used in jazz improvisation, particularly in the bebop genre.

It includes an additional chromatic passing tone between the minor third (b3) and the fourth (4) which gives the scale an eight-note structure (octatonic).

Dorian Bebop Scale Construction

The Dorian bebop scale is a minor type scale used over minor 7th chords. It's an interesting alternative for those who want to increase their musical language. 

You can see in the example below that the D Dorian bebop scale contains a minor third (F), a chromatic passing tone (F#) and a minor seventh (C).

D dorian bebop scale D E F F# G A B C
Formula 1 2 b3 3 4 5 6 b7
Intervals W H H H W W H W

Comparison With The Dorian Mode

Here is quick comparison between the Dorian mode and the Dorian bebop scale. You can see that there is no major third (passing tone) in the Dorian mode.

Dorian mode 1 2 b3 X 4 5 6 b7
Dorian bebop scale 1 2 b3 3 4 5 6 b7

Comparison With Mixolydian Bebop

If you look closer, you will see that the Dorian bebop scale is the fifth mode of the Mixolydian scale (aka dominante bebop), so it has the same notes.

The same passing tone is used for the Dorian bebop and Mixolydian bebop scale. It means that it is possible to interchange scales and lines.

For example, in a II-V sequence, you can use the same bebop scale (Dorian of Mixolydian) both for the iim7 chord and the V7 chord.

The Dorian bebop scale has an extra note between the b3 and the 4th (F#) whereas the Mixolydian bebop scale has the same extra note between the b7 and the root.

D Dorian bebop scale D E F F# G A B C        
G Mixolydian bebop scale         G A B C D E F F#

Guitar Shapes

Here is a first Dorian bebop guitar diagram. This is the verision with an additional major third (3) between the minor third (b3) and the fourth (4).

The notes of each diagram a within the space of one octave.

To hear this scale correctly, it is preferable to play these shapes starting with the tonic (1). Then you can try to play them starting from the chord tones (1 - b3 - 5 - b7).

Playing the corresponding chord after or before is a nice way to bring scales and chords together.

Dorian bebop scale guitar diagrams

These two diagrams have notes within the space of two octaves.

 

Dorian bebop guitar scale charts

The Second Type of Dorian Bebop Scale

There are two versions of this scale :

  •  One with a passing tone (3) between the b3 and the 4th.
  • One with a passing tone (7) between the b7 and the tonic.

This last one has the same intervals as the dominant bebop scale and also referred to as Dorian Melodic Bebop.

D dorian bebop scale with 7 D E F G A B C C#
Formula 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 7
Intervals W H W W W H H H

 

Here are the guitar shapes corresponding to this second type.

Dorian bebop scale guitar patterns

These two guitar shapes show how to play the Dorian bebop scale (with the major 7th) within two octaves. You have to play these shapes in twelve keys and try experiment your own fingerings.

Dorian bebop scale guitar

Dorian Bebop Scales | 3 Notes Per String

The two charts below resume the positions for the two types of Dorian bebop scales on the whole guitar neck. Each chart includes 7 positions.

Dorian bebop scale guitar chart
Dorian bebop scale guitar positions

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Last edited: 2024-06-15

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