The melodic minor scale on guitar
Natural minor with a raised 6th and 7th, played the same way up and down (the jazz version). Classical players often descend it as natural minor instead.
A Melodic Minor
A1B2C♭3D4E5F#6G#7
Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 · Steps: W · H · W · W · W · W · H (W = whole step, H = half step) · 7 notes
Where it sits on the neck
Every A Melodic Minor note from the open strings to the 12th fret, standard tuning. Gold dots are the root. Above the 12th fret the pattern repeats.
On a phone, swipe the diagram sideways to see the whole neck.
Songs that use it
- Carol of the Bells (traditional). It switches to melodic minor over the V chord.
In Fretdle
It's the daily board's scale on Sundays. The scale's notes are hidden on the board: you only see the roots, so knowing this pattern is the whole game.