Bebop major scale in C on cavaquinho
Bebop major scale in C: C, D, E, F, G, G#, A and B, the degrees 1–2–3–4–5–#5–6–7. The box shown is in open position, from the open strings up to fret 4; the lowest tonic sits on the 2nd string, fret 1, and the hand stays put in the region, with no position shift.
On the cavaquinho, four steel strings pack the scale into a short, bright space — there is nowhere for a note to hide. Its four steel strings give a bright, sharp attack that cuts through the mix and drives the beat.
Climb it slowly and name each degree out loud before speeding up.
Text description
Open strings and frets 1 to 4, 4 strings. Root (C): string 2, fret 1.
- String 4 (D): open, D, second; fret 2, E, third, finger 2; fret 3, F, fourth, finger 3
- String 3 (G): open, G, fifth; fret 1, G sharp, sharp fifth, finger 1; fret 2, A, sixth, finger 2; fret 4, B, seventh, finger 4
- String 2 (B): open, B, seventh; fret 1, C, root, finger 1; fret 3, D, second, finger 3
- String 1 (D): open, D, second; fret 2, E, third, finger 2; fret 3, F, fourth, finger 3
In the diagram, each dot carries its scale degree; 1 is the tonic, highlighted.