The melodic minor scale has a minor sound with a natural 6th and 7th, giving it a different color from the natural minor scale.

If you already know a Major scale shape, melodic minor is easy to relate to it: keep the same notes and lower the 3rd by one fret.

In this lesson, you’ll learn the formula, fretboard shapes, and several ways to practice and apply the scale musically.

Melodic minor scale formula

In this lesson, we’re using the form of melodic minor commonly used in jazz and modern improvisation, where the same notes are played ascending and descending.

The melodic minor scale has the formula 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

An easy way to build it is to start with a Major scale and lower the 3rd by one half step.

For example:

• C Major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B
• C melodic minor: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B

Compare that with the natural minor scale:

• Natural minor: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
• Melodic minor: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7

The 6th and 7th are the notes that distinguish melodic minor from natural minor.

Melodic minor scale formula

The whole and half step formula for the melodic minor scale is whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole, half. Here is an example applied to the C melodic minor scale:

Play C Major, then C melodic minor. Listen specifically to E changing to Eb while the other six notes stay the same. Then compare C natural minor with C melodic minor and listen to the change in the 6th and 7th.

Melodic minor scale in all keys

Using the formula we looked at, here is a chart of the melodic minor scale in all keys.

Use this chart as a reference when you want to build melodic minor from a specific root. In a progression, make sure the natural 6th and 7th fit the harmony you’re playing over.

Melodic minor scale application examples

The examples below show the scale in several keys. Start with one key and listen closely to the sound before moving the same formula to another root.

C melodic minor scale

Play C melodic minor slowly up and down. As you play, identify the root, b3, 6, and 7. These notes will help you hear and recognize the character of the scale.

D melodic minor scale

E melodic minor scale

G melodic minor scale

5 Melodic minor scale shapes on the guitar

We can break down the melodic minor scale into 5 different sections of the guitar fretboard. You can play these shapes starting on any root note.

How to read the scale charts

For the charts below:

• The lowest horizontal line represents the thickest string (Low E). The top horizontal line represents the thinnest string (high E). 
• The green circles represent the root note of the melodic minor scale and the blue notes are every scale note in between. 
• The numbers inside the circles represent the suggested fingering to use on your fretting hand.

If needed, check out how to read guitar notation symbols.

The five shapes below show how melodic minor covers the fretboard. Start with one shape that feels comfortable and use the others later to expand into nearby areas of the neck.

Shape 1

Choose one root and play Shape 1 slowly. Find the root notes and the b3 inside the shape, then play it again while listening for the melodic minor sound rather than only watching the fingering.

Shape 2

Shape 3

Shape 4

Shape 5

Once your first shape feels comfortable, choose one neighboring shape and find the notes where the two positions overlap.

Create a short line that begins in your first shape and crosses into the neighboring shape without stopping.

Note: When playing these shapes with open strings, adjust your fingerings as needed. For example, if a shape uses fingering 1, 3, 4 on one string, you can play open, 1, 3 instead. Once you move to fretted positions, the original shapes return.

Melodic Minor scale shapes connected on guitar

The diagram below shows how the five positions connect across the fretboard. Use it as a map when you want to move beyond the one or two shapes you’re currently practicing.

Use the Major scale as your template

A useful way to learn melodic minor is to start with a Major scale shape you already know and lower the 3rd.

This helps you see the relationship between the two scales instead of treating melodic minor as a completely separate fretboard system.

The charts below show where the 3rd changes inside each Major scale position.

Shape 1

Melodic minor scale patterns

The patterns below give you different ways to move through the scale after the basic shape is comfortable. Choose one pattern first and use the others as additional practice options.

4 note ascending scale pattern

The following pattern ascends four consecutive notes in the scale and repeats on the next scale degree.

Apply one pattern to the melodic minor shape you’re learning. Then stop using the pattern and turn a small part of it into your own short phrase.

4 note descending scale pattern

This is the same 4 note concept as the previous example except we are descending the melodic minor scale.

Ascending 3rds scale pattern

For this scale pattern, we are playing intervals of thirds on each degree of the scale. You can think of thirds as skipping the next note of a scale.

Descending 3rds scale pattern

This is the same concept as before except we are descending in thirds using the C melodic minor scale.

This other guide on how to practice scales covers more application examples such as playing consecutive intervals, skipping by different intervals, and using triads or 7th chord arpeggios. You may also want to learn how to make your melody lines sound jazzy.

Get the chart here!

Easily look up scales with the Essential Minor Scales Guitar Chart!

This chart shows you the 5 essential minor scale shapes on guitar and how to play the minor scale starting on all 12 root notes.

There’s no need to stumble on what notes to play… Get the Essential Minor Scales Guitar Chart printable to motivate and guide you on your musical journey!

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How to Practice Melodic Minor

1. Start with one shape

Learn one position well before adding a neighboring shape.

2. Play it with harmony

Play the scale over a minor chord or backing track where the natural 6th and 7th fit the harmony. Listen especially to those notes against the minor 3rd so you begin recognizing the scale by ear.

3. Connect one neighboring shape

Once one position is comfortable, add the position directly above or below it.

Put on a chord or backing track that fits melodic minor. Using one scale shape, create two short phrases. In the first, use only a few notes and leave space. In the second, make sure you include the b3, 6, or 7 so you can hear the character of the scale.

Wrapping up

Melodic minor contains the same notes as a Major scale except for the lowered 3rd: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Start with one Major scale shape you already know, lower the 3rd, and spend time hearing the difference instead of only memorizing another fingering pattern.

From there, the additional shapes, connected fretboard maps, and scale patterns in this lesson give you more ways to expand the sound across the guitar.

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