A Bebop Major Scale
Notes in the A Bebop Major Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♯5 | Chromatic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 6 | Submediant | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G# | 415.305 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | C# |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C# | D |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | F# |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F# | G# |
| 8 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G# | A |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | A | major |
| 2 | B | B diminished | diminished |
| 3 | C# | C# (complex) | other |
| 4 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| 5 | E | E (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | F | F diminished | diminished |
| 6 | F# | F# minor | minor |
| 7 | G# | G# diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
3 ♯ — The A key signature uses F#, C#, G#.
A Bebop Major Scale in Practice
The A Bebop Major Scale uses the key signature of 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#). A major has three sharps (F#, C#, G#) and a bright, clear sound. It is extremely common in popular music and rock, particularly on guitar, and is easily sung by most voices. On guitar, A positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The bebop major scale adds a chromatic passing tone (♯5) between the 5th and 6th degrees of the major scale. This creates an 8-note scale that aligns chord tones on strong beats.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C# | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: A Bebop Major Scale Positions
The A key offers 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like A are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.