STRINGSCALES

E♭ melodic minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

A string: Bb, C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

D string: D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

B string: C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

Eb 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:

E♭

i

E♭m
F

ii

Fm
G♭

bIII+

G♭aug
A♭

IV

A♭maj
B♭

V

B♭maj
C

vi°

Cdim
D

vii°

Ddim

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

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

F dorian b2Gb lydian augmentedAb lydian dominantBb mixolydian b6C locrian #2D altered

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

tip
  • Hear it as Eb minor with a raised 6th (C) and 7th (D): play natural minor, then melodic minor, and listen to the smoother climb home.
  • Over a minor-major 7th or m6 chord in Eb, this is the parent sound; arpeggiate root, bIII (Gb), 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 Eb melodic minor fingering serves lydian dominant and altered lines in related keys, so one shape pays three rents.

How to play E♭ melodic minor on guitar

Open D is the only open string in this key, and it does not work as a drone, so every note comes from the fretting hand. Roots on the bottom two strings sit at fret 11 and fret 6, which means any bass tonic asks for a trip up the neck. A capo on fret 1 gives D shapes. Four flats in the signature, and box one ends at fret 15.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.