Melodic Minor Scales

The Melodic Minor Scale differs from the Natural Minor Scale by the sixth and

seventh notes, which are raised a semi-step. This scale is also some kind of

peculiar since it is sometimes played differently ascending and descending.

Classical music: When you go up the scale, you are using the Melodic Minor Scale, but

when you go down the scale you are using the Natural Minor Scale. For the Melodic Scale in

A, it will look like this:

Ascending: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A

Descending: A, G, F, E, D, C, B, A

Jazz: The sixth and seventh notes are always raised, exactly as the pictures below

illustrate.

Notes (ascending): A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A

Notes (descending): A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

A# / Bb

Notes (ascending): A#, C, Db, Eb, F, G, A, A#

Notes (descending): A#, C, Db, Eb, F, F#, G#, A#

B
Notes (ascending): B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A#, B

Notes (descending): B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B

Notes (ascending): C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B, C

Notes (descending): C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C

C# / Db

Notes (ascending): C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, C, C#

Notes (descending): C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#

Notes (ascending): D, E, F, G, A, B, C#, D

Notes (descending): D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D

D# / Eb
Notes (ascending): D#, F, F#, G#, A#, C, D, D#

Notes (descending): D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#

Notes (ascending): E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D#, E

Notes (descending): E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E

Notes (ascending): F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F

Notes (descending): F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F

F# / Gb

Notes (ascending): F#, G#, A, B, C#, Eb, F, F#

Notes (descending): F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E, F#

G
Notes (ascending): G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G

Notes (descending): G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G

G# / Ab

Notes (ascending): G#, A#, B, C#, Eb, F, G, G#

Notes (descending): G#, A#, B, C#, Eb, E, F#, G#

Melodic Minor Scales overview (auxiliary notes in descending scale in

parentheses)

A: A, B, C, D, E, F# (F), G# (G), A

A#/Bb: A#, C, Db, Eb, F, G (F#), A (G#), A#

B: B, C#, D, E, F#, G# (G), A# (A), B

C: C, D, Eb, F, G, A (Ab), B (Bb), C

C#/Db: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A# (A), C (B), C#

D: D, E, F, G, A, B (Bb), C# (C), D

D#/Eb: D#, F, F#, G#, A#, C (B), D (C#), D#

E: E, F#, G, A, B, C# (C), D# (D), E

F: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D (Db), E (Eb), F

F#/Gb: F#, G#, A, B, C#, Eb (D), F (E), F#

G: G, A, Bb, C, D, E (Eb), F# (F), G

G#/Ab: G#, A#, B, C#, Eb, F (E), G (F#), G#

Intervals and steps

Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
 Semi-notes : 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1

Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half