D melodic minor scale on guitar
The D melodic minor scale has seven notes: D, E, F, G, A, B and C♯ (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 | D | E | F | G | A | B | C♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 D 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; D (Dm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dmhome | – |
| 2 (E) | Emcolour | Em7colour |
| ♭3 (F) | Faugdaylight | – |
| 4 (G) | Gthe door | G7the door |
| 5 (A) | Athe pull | A7the pull |
| 6 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
| 7 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | C♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the D minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the D melodic minor scale?
D, E, F, G, A, B and C♯. 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 D melodic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Dm, Em, Faug, G, A, Bdim and C♯dim, and as seventh chords Em7, G7, A7, Bm7♭5 and C♯m7♭5. D is home: Dm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The melodic minor scale in every key
Other scales in D
D majorD minorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD DorianD MixolydianD LydianD PhrygianD 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.