Ukulele · melodic minor

B melodic minor scale on ukulele

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.

The notes of the B melodic minor scale
NoteBC♯DEF♯G♯A♯
Interval1 (root)2♭34567
Step to the nextwholehalfwholewholewholewholehalf
Make a practice sheet of it
The whole neckevery B melodic minor scale note from the nut to fret 15, the root a diamond
GCEA135791215open67R2♭345672♭34567R2♭34567R2♭3457R2♭34567R

3 positions to learn it in

Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.

Open positionfrets 0–4
GCEA13open67R2♭344567R2
Frets 6–10frets 6–10
GCEA6792♭345677R2♭345
Frets 10–14frets 10–14
GCEA1012567R2♭3♭34567R

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.

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

CC♯DE♭EFF♯GG♯AB♭B

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: ukulele scales. This scale on guitar, bass, mandolin and banjo.