C melodic minor scale on guitar
The C melodic minor scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A and B (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 | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 C 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; C (Cm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Cmhome | – |
| 2 (D) | Dmcolour | Dm7colour |
| ♭3 (E♭) | E♭augdaylight | – |
| 4 (F) | Fthe door | F7the door |
| 5 (G) | Gthe pull | G7the pull |
| 6 (A) | Adimthe edge | Am7♭5the edge |
| 7 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the C minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the C melodic minor scale?
C, D, E♭, F, G, A and B. 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 C melodic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Cm, Dm, E♭aug, F, G, Adim and Bdim, and as seventh chords Dm7, F7, G7, Am7♭5 and Bm7♭5. C is home: Cm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The melodic minor scale in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC 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.