Bebop major scale in C
Bebop major scale in C: C, D, E, F, G, G#, A and B, the degrees 1–2–3–4–5–#5–6–7. Major scale plus a chromatic note between 5 and 6 (spelled #5 here): lands major-chord tones on strong beats in jazz.
This is the major scale with one extra note squeezed between the 5th and the 6th — the formula on this page spells that added step as #5, which is the same sound many method books write as b6, just notated differently. With eight notes it takes on a rhythmic purpose: playing in eighth notes — in other words, fast, back-to-back notes — the tones of the major chord always fall on the strong beats. In jazz it's the classic partner for major and major-sixth chords, giving phrases that rolling, even bebop feel.
Example: C – D – E – F – G – G# – A – BFormula: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – #5 – 6 – 7In the formula, the numbers are degrees — positions counted in the reference major scale; "b" lowers a half step and "#" raises one.
Family: Bebop scales.
They add one chromatic note to a seven-note scale to make eight. The function is rhythmic: aligning chord tones with strong beats in continuous eighth-note lines. The naming varies between schools — these are pedagogical conventions, not families as stable as major, harmonic minor or melodic minor.
The same scale on all four instruments
In the diagrams, each dot carries its scale degree — 1 is the tonic, highlighted.