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Scales

D melodic minor scale

The D melodic minor scale notes: D – E – F – G – A – B – C♯. 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

D1E2F♭3G4A5B6C♯7

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

D melodic minor scale on guitar

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

D melodic minor scale on the guitar fretboardEFGABC♯DEABC♯DEFGADEFGABC♯DGABC♯DEFGBC♯DEFGABEFGABC♯DE357912

D melodic minor scale on piano

D melodic minor scale on the piano keyboardDEFGABDEFGABC♯C♯

Chords in this scale

Other scales from D

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D melodic minor scale?

D, E, F, G, A, B, C♯. 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 (D). 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