Jazz Vibes - What is THE Bebop Scale??

There IS no bebop scale...just normal scales with passing tones!

Jazz is a style of music where the rhythm is so important and integral to it's performance, that it's not enough to learn the harmony - you have to learn the harmony together with rhythmic phrasing.

This is what bebop scales are - they are scales that have been embellished with passing tones (usually chromatic) that make simply playing the scale sound jazzy and swinging. You have to be selective where you add the passing tones, however - the rhythmic phrasing of the scale needs to remain accenting the chord tones on strong beats, otherwise your playing might sound - in the words of Bix Beiderbecke - 'corny'..

I explain the 'Bebop Scale' here by applying the concept to Major, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Dorian, Locrian, Mixolydian flat 9 flat 13, and melodic minor scales... yeah - it sounds complicated but it's not really - just watch the video!

Use these ideas to create your own bebop scale lines. These make for great warm up routines for any instrument - I'm a jazz vibraphonist, but I learned this stuff from a guitar player.

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http://www.timcollinsmusic.com

Thanks for watching!
-Tim