D Melodic Minor Guitar Scale

6-string guitar  ·  7 notes  ·  minor family

Notes

D
E
F
G
A
B
C♯

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

Interval Structure

D T E ½T F T G T A T B T C♯ D+oct. ½T

Scale Chords (triads)

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

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Same scale in other keys