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Scales

A melodic minor scale

The A melodic minor scale notes: A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G♯. Minor with a raised 6th and 7th on the way up. Traditionally it comes down as natural minor; in jazz it's played the same both ways.

Notes and steps

A1B2C♭3D4E5F♯6G♯7

Steps: W – H – W – W – W – W – H · W = whole step, H = half step

A melodic minor scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

A melodic minor scale on the guitar fretboardEF♯G♯ABCDEABCDEF♯G♯ADEF♯G♯ABCDG♯ABCDEF♯BCDEF♯G♯ABEF♯G♯ABCDE357912

A melodic minor scale on piano

A melodic minor scale on the piano keyboardCDEABCDEABF♯G♯F♯G♯

Chords in this scale

Other scales from A

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A melodic minor scale?

A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G♯. Step formula: W–H–W–W–W–W–H (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (A). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash