So far, what I've posted has been variations on an integrated scale/arpeggio form. While it's a good start, at the request of a Facebook friend, this page will be devoted to the dominant Bebop scale. This scale is a hybrid of the major and dominant scales because it contains both 7th's. If you wish an additional challenge, add the arpeggio form that you have previously worked on to the basic form of this scale. Be creative with it as well by playing 1,3,5,min7,9,Maj7,5,3,1 or 1,3,5,Maj7,9,min7,5,3,1. Test the limits of your memory, knowledge, and capabilities!!
Do you enjoy these exercises I've posted? Are they helping you gain technique on your instrument and be a better improviser? If so, please consider a modest donation to help maintain the site. Thanks!!
This example is the C dominant bebop scale. The last 4 notes (including the octave) are chromatic. As you work through the files posted below, you'll see the chromaticism creates some interesting possibilities when you work through the different patterns. The picture above links to the downloadable treble clef page.
Here are the practice tools I've created thus far. As I wrote earlier on the web site, please feel free to print and share these but do, please, leave my name on them!
Dominant Bebop Scale - Bass Cleff
Dominant Bebop Scale - 3rds, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - 3rds, Bass Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - 4ths, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - 4ths, Bass Clef
These next several files are slightly "misnamed". While they do ascend or descend (initially), they invert at the top of the exercise. So, if they ascend at the beginning, they'll descend at the half-way point. This means if they descend at the beginning, they'll ascend from the middle to the end.
Dominant Bebop Scale - Ascending Triplets, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Ascending Triplets, Bass Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Descending Triplets, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Descending Triplets, Bass Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Ascending-Descending 4 Note Pattern, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Ascending-Descending 4 Note Pattern, Bass Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Descending-Ascending 4 Note Pattern, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Descending-Ascending 4 Note Pattern, Bass Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Pattern 1, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Pattern 1, Bass Clef
After re-thinking my methods and conferring with a friend, I am altering the way I produce these exercises. He pointed out to me that everyone starts with the key of "C". Do you remember what I wrote about the "boring" scale a few pages back? Well, always starting in the same key is the same thing − boring!! So, starting with this exercise (in both treble and bass clefs) I will change things up quite a bit. The exercises will start in different keys, use the cycle of perfect 5ths or 4ths, or maybe even use a series of stacked major 3rds to wind their way through all 12 keys.
Dominant Bebop Scale - Pattern 2, Treble Clef
Dominant Bebop Scale - Pattern 2, Bass Clef
Note that in some keys, the exercise or pattern may extend out of your range or the range of your instrument. Please keep in mind that I'm writing "generic" exercises - take the time and initiative to transpose the "offending" areas into either the usable range of your instrument or the range that's within your capabilities.
Please come back and check the page often. I will be creating more exercises and posting them here. Plus, I'll be creating the same exercises in the Major, Dorian, Minor, and other scale types. Like I mentioned a few pages ago, we're just getting started with this!!
Donate here --> 