STRINGSCALES

A melodic minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C, D, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

B string: B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, E at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

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A melodic minor

The melodic minor scale is natural minor with the 6th and 7th raised, smoothing the climb to the root while keeping the minor 3rd. Classically it descends as natural minor, but jazz treats it as one scale in both directions and builds a whole system on its modes: lydian dominant, altered and locrian #2 among them. It is the sound of a minor chord with a major 7th on top.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

i

Am
B

ii

Bm
C

bIII+

Caug
D

IV

Dmaj
E

V

Emaj
F♯

vi°

F♯dim
G♯

vii°

G♯dim

Characteristic notes: F# (natural 6) and G# (natural 7), the raised sixth and seventh that smooth out the climb to the root.

Same notes, different mode

A melodic minor uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

B dorian b2C lydian augmentedD lydian dominantE mixolydian b6F# locrian #2G# altered

melodic minor in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Hear it as A minor with a raised 6th (F#) and 7th (G#): play natural minor, then melodic minor, and listen to the smoother climb home.
  • Over a minor-major 7th or m6 chord in A, this is the parent sound; arpeggiate root, bIII (C), V and VII to spell it out.
  • Jazz treats it as one scale up and down; classical practice descends as natural minor. Try both and keep the one the line asks for.
  • Its modes are a toolkit: the same A melodic minor fingering serves lydian dominant and altered lines in related keys, so one shape pays three rents.

How to play A melodic minor on guitar

Open A is a root at fret 0, and four other open strings belong to the key, so drone work costs nothing here. Only the G string sits outside. Lowest root is fret 5 on the low E, which lets the E-shape barre at 5 double as the tonic chord. Box one ends at fret 9, and EM as the V chord supplies a major dominant inside the minor key.

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