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♯ (C♯m) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C♯) | C♯mhome | – |
| 2 (D♯) | D♯mcolour | D♯m7colour |
| ♭3 (E) | Eaugdaylight | – |
| 4 (F♯) | F♯the door | F♯7the door |
| 5 (G♯) | G♯the pull | G♯7the pull |
| 6 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | A♯m7♭5the edge |
| 7 (B♯) | B♯dimthe edge | B♯m7♭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: C♯m, D♯m, Eaug, F♯, G♯, A♯dim and B♯dim, and as seventh chords D♯m7, F♯7, G♯7, A♯m7♭5 and B♯m7♭5. C♯ is home: C♯m is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The melodic minor scale in every key
Other scales in C♯
D♭ majorC♯ minorC♯ minor pentatonicD♭ major pentatonicC♯ bluesC♯ DorianD♭ MixolydianD♭ LydianC♯ PhrygianC♯ harmonic minorD♭ 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.