F Bebop Major Scale
Notes in the F Bebop Major Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♯5 | Chromatic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 6 | Submediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | E | 329.628 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | Bb |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Bb | C |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | Db |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Db | D |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 8 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | F | major |
| 2 | G | G diminished | diminished |
| 3 | A | A (complex) | other |
| 4 | Bb | Bb diminished | diminished |
| 5 | C | C (complex) | other |
| ♯5 | Db | Db diminished | diminished |
| 6 | D | D minor | minor |
| 7 | E | E diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
1 ♭ — The F key signature uses Bb.
F Bebop Major Scale in Practice
The F Bebop Major Scale uses the key signature of 1 flat (Bb). F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music. On guitar, F positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| Db | 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 |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: F Bebop Major Scale
F is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce F concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in F sound a major sixth lower.