Melodic Minor Scale
The Melodic Minor Scale has a minor quality due to its minor Third E♭. The Melodic Minor Scale, like Melodic Minor, is similar to the Harmonic Minor Scale with a raised (by a semitone) Seventh B, but also has a raised (by a semitone) Sixth A. This improves melodic passages by replacing the one and a half tone interval between the Sixth and Seventh with a smaller one tone interval. When descending the scale, we use the notes of the Natural Minor Scale. The Melodic Minor Scale is classified as a heptatonic scale as it has seven notes, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B.
Below you will find the Melodic Minor Scale notes, notation, patterns, degrees, intervals and more. You can also opt to see the Melodic Minor Scale on your preferred instrument.
Notes Ascending
C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B, C
Notes Descending
C, B♭, A♭, G, F, E♭, D, C
Notation Ascending
Notation Descending
Pattern Ascending
T, S, T, T, T, T, S
S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)
Pattern Descending
T, T, S, T, T, S, T
S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)
Degrees Ascending
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Tonic |
| D | 2 | Supertonic |
| E♭ | ♭3 | Mediant |
| F | 4 | Subdominant |
| G | 5 | Dominant |
| A | 6 | Submediant |
| B | 7 | Leading Tone |
| C | 8 | Tonic (Octave) |
Degrees Descending
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | Tonic (Octave) |
| B♭ | ♭7 | Subtonic |
| A♭ | ♭6 | Submediant |
| G | 5 | Dominant |
| F | 4 | Subdominant |
| E♭ | ♭3 | Mediant |
| D | 2 | Supertonic |
| C | 1 | Tonic |
Intervals Ascending
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| C > C | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| C > D | 2 | Major 2nd (M2) |
| C > E♭ | 3 | minor 3rd (m3) |
| C > F | 5 | Perfect 4th (P4) |
| C > G | 7 | Perfect 5th (P5) |
| C > A | 9 | Major 6th (M6) |
| C > B | 11 | Major 7th (M7) |
| C > C | 12 | Perfect Octave (P8) |
Intervals Descending
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| C > C | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| C > B♭ | 2 | Major 2nd (M2) |
| C > A♭ | 4 | Major 3rd (M3) |
| C > G | 5 | Perfect 4th (P4) |
| C > F | 7 | Perfect 5th (P5) |
| C > E♭ | 9 | Major 6th (M6) |
| C > D | 10 | minor 7th (m7) |
| C > C | 12 | Perfect Octave (P8) |
Scales related to C Melodic Minor Scale
Enharmonic Equivalent Scale
Scale with the same root and notes as the C Melodic Minor Scale but different spelling.
B♯ Melodic Minor Scale
Parallel Major Scale
Major scale with the same root note as C Melodic Minor Scale.
C Major Scale
Chords related to C Melodic Minor Scale
Related Triads
These chords have been built using the notes of the C Melodic Minor Scale. The chords are in degree order and shown in Roman numerals (lowercase = minor/diminished, uppercase = Major/Augmented).
i Chord - C Minor
ii Chord - D Minor
♭III+ Chord - E♭ Augmented
IV Chord - F Major
V Chord - G Major
vio Chord - A Diminished
viio Chord - B Diminished
Learn to Play Melodic Minor Scale
If you want to learn what scales and modes are and much more, check out our free Fundamentals of Music Theory course. If you already know some of the basics, you can jump straight into the scales lesson.
