A Melodic Minor
A Melodic Minor scale for guitar.
The A Melodic Minor is a seven-note scale. Colored circles mark the tones in the fingerboard diagram, with darker color highlighting the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 5th fret.
A Melodic Minor 2 octaves
A Melodic Minor full fretboard
A Melodic Minor with note names
Shape 1 (4th position) with fingerings
Shape 2 (7th position) with fingerings
Shape 3 (9th position) with fingerings
Shape 4 (11th position) with fingerings
Shape 5 (2nd position) with fingerings
The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | B | Major second | Supertonic |
| b3 | C | Minor third | Mediant |
| 4 | D | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | E | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | F# | Sixth | Submediant |
| 7 | G# | Major seventh | Subtonic |
The interval formula (2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.
| Notes (ascending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| A-B | M2 |
| A-C | m3 |
| A-D | P4 |
| A-E | P5 |
| A-F# | M6 |
| A-G# | M7 |
| Notes (descending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| A-G# | m2 |
| A-F# | m3 |
| A-E | P4 |
| A-D | P5 |
| A-C | M6 |
| A-B | m7 |
Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.
These are the main chords built from the notes of this scale:
| Chord | Notes | Chord | Notes | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am | A-C-E | Am6 | A-C-E-F# | Am6/9 | A-C-E-F#-B |
| Bm | B-D-F# | Bm7 | B-D-F#-A | ||
| Caug | C-E-G# | CM7#5 | C-E-G#-B | Cmaj9 | C-E-G-B-D |
| D | D-F#-A | D7 | D-F#-A-C | D9 | D-F#-A-C-E |
| E | E-G#-B | E7 | E-G#-B-D | E9 | E-G#-B-D-F# |
| F#dim | F-A-C# | F#m7b5 | F#-A-C-E | ||
| G#dim | G-B-D# | G#m7b5 | G#-B-D-F# |
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the A Melodic Minor scale in which Am is the tonic triad. “M” is used as an abbreviation instead for “maj” in the third column.
The A Melodic Minor scale consists of seven notes. These can be described as intervals, as semi-notes or steps on the guitar fingerboard, written as 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 from the first note to the next octave.
This scale has an unusual aspect: it ascends as described above but descends as the Natural Minor. For that reason, it is also known as the Ascending Melodic Minor.
The A Melodic Minor is one of three A Minor scales, the other two are A Natural Minor and A Harmonic Minor.
The scale is identical with the Major scale apart from the minor third. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as Ionian b3 scale.
If you already know the A Natural Minor, the equivalent Melodic Minor is distinguished with the raised sixth and seventh intervals.
Also beneficial for learning this scale is to observe the note steps, starting from the root: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole, half
A Melodic Minor scale first shape ascending.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.