6 Essential Dominant Scales For Guitar

6 – Dominant Bebop

The Dominant Bebop scale is an eight-note scale (octatonic) commonly used in jazz.

It adds a chromatic passing tone between the flat seventh (♭7) and the root to create a smooth, flowing melodic line over dominant chords.

Formula (intervals):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7, 7

For example, in A Dominant Bebop, the notes are:
A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, G♯

Characteristics:

The added major seventh (natural 7) creates a seamless connection to the root, making it easy to navigate chord changes and resolve lines effectively.

It’s typically played over dominant 7th chords (e.g., A7) to emphasize swing and rhythmic phrasing.

Essential for bebop improvisation, providing a blend of tension (chromaticism) and resolution.