F melodic minor scale on guitar
The F melodic minor scale has seven notes: F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D and E (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 | F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 F 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; F (Fm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (F) | Fmhome | – |
| 2 (G) | Gmcolour | Gm7colour |
| ♭3 (A♭) | A♭augdaylight | – |
| 4 (B♭) | B♭the door | B♭7the door |
| 5 (C) | Cthe pull | C7the pull |
| 6 (D) | Ddimthe edge | Dm7♭5the edge |
| 7 (E) | Edimthe edge | Em7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the F minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the F melodic minor scale?
F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D and E. 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 F melodic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Fm, Gm, A♭aug, B♭, C, Ddim and Edim, and as seventh chords Gm7, B♭7, C7, Dm7♭5 and Em7♭5. F is home: Fm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The melodic minor scale in every key
Other scales in F
F majorF minorF minor pentatonicF major pentatonicF bluesF DorianF MixolydianF LydianF PhrygianF harmonic minorF 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.