A Melodic Minor Guitar Scale
6-string guitar · 7 notes · minor family
Notes
A
B
C
D
E
F♯
G♯
Solfège : La – Si – Do – Ré – Mi – Fa♯ – Sol♯
Interval Structure
A
T
B
½T
C
T
D
T
E
T
F♯
T
G♯
→
A+oct.
½T
Scale Chords (triads)
| Degree | Chord (in A) | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| i | Am | minor |
| ii | Bm | minor |
| III+ | C+ | augmented |
| IV | D | Major |
| V | E | Major |
| vi° | F♯° | diminished |
| vii° | G♯° | diminished |
About this scale
The melodic minor scale (ascending form) is essential in jazz guitar. It generates the altered, Lydian dominant, and Locrian #2 scales through simple rotation. Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern — all exploit its colors on minor ii-V-I progressions. Its natural 6th and 7th degrees allow very fluid melodic lines over minMaj7 chords.
See fretboard positions for A Melodic Minor on guitar in the interactive app.
Explore in ScalaBass →