Scales reference
Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale is a seven-note minor collection with raised sixth and seventh degrees relative to natural minor in its ascending form.
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C Melodic Minor Scale
- Theory
- Scale
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 1 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 5 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 11 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 1 | 13 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 1 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 17 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 23 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 0 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 2 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 5 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 6 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 8 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 2 | 10 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 12 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 14 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 17 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 18 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 20 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 2 | 22 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 24 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 0 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 1 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 3 | 3 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 3 | 5 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 7 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 9 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 12 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 13 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 3 | 15 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 3 | 17 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 19 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 21 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 24 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 0 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 2 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 4 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 7 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 8 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 4 | 10 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 4 | 12 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 14 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 16 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 19 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 20 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 4 | 22 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 4 | 24 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 0 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 3 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 4 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 5 | 6 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 5 | 8 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 10 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 12 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 15 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 16 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 5 | 18 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 5 | 20 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 22 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 24 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 1 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 6 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 5 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 7 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 11 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 6 | 13 | F | F | 4 | 4 | No |
| 6 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 17 | A | A | 6 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 19 | B | B | 7 | 7 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 23 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
Overview
Melodic minor smooths the upper part of harmonic minor by raising its sixth degree as well as its seventh. The result retains a minor third while approaching the tonic through the same upper degrees found in major.
Construction
The authoritative definition presents the ascending collection. In common-practice classical usage, descending melodies often return to natural minor; in jazz and many contemporary theory contexts, the same form is commonly used in both directions.
Characteristics
Its minor third preserves minor quality, while the natural sixth and leading tone create a smooth, directed upper tetrachord. Its modes also produce several important harmonic colours.
Applications
Melodic minor supports minor-key melodic writing, minor-major harmony, improvisational vocabulary, and comparison with natural and harmonic minor. The relevant convention should always be clear when analysing or communicating its use.