C Melodic Minor Guitar Scale

6-string guitar  ·  7 notes  ·  minor family

Notes

C
D
E♭
F
G
A
B

Solfège : Do – Ré – Mi♭ – Fa – Sol – La – Si

Interval Structure

C T D ½T E♭ T F T G T A T B C+oct. ½T

Scale Chords (triads)

DegreeChord (in C)Quality
i Cm minor
ii Dm minor
III+ E♭+ augmented
IV F Major
V G Major
vi° diminished
vii° 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 C Melodic Minor on guitar in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys