B melodic minor scale on guitar
The B melodic minor scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯ (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7). A minor scale with a major 6th and 7th, or a major scale with a flat 3rd. The jazz minor: smooth over m6 and m(maj7) chords.
| Note | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G♯ | A♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | whole | half |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the B melodic minor scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; B (Bm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (B) | Bmhome | – |
| 2 (C♯) | C♯mcolour | C♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (D) | Daugdaylight | – |
| 4 (E) | Ethe door | E7the door |
| 5 (F♯) | F♯the pull | F♯7the pull |
| 6 (G♯) | G♯dimthe edge | G♯m7♭5the edge |
| 7 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the B minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the B melodic minor scale?
B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the B melodic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Bm, C♯m, Daug, E, F♯, G♯dim and A♯dim, and as seventh chords C♯m7, E7, F♯7, G♯m7♭5 and A♯m7♭5. B is home: Bm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The melodic minor scale in every key
Other scales in B
B majorB minorB minor pentatonicB major pentatonicB bluesB DorianB MixolydianB LydianB PhrygianB harmonic minorB Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.