Ukulele · melodic minor

D melodic minor scale on ukulele

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.

The notes of the D melodic minor scale
NoteDEFGABC♯
Interval1 (root)2♭34567
Step to the nextwholehalfwholewholewholewholehalf
Make a practice sheet of it
The whole neckevery D melodic minor scale note from the nut to fret 15, the root a diamond
GCEA135791215open4567R2♭3457R2♭34567R2♭34567R2♭34567R2♭3456

2 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
GCEA13open4567R22♭34567
Frets 9–13frets 9–13
GCEA9122♭345677R2♭345

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.

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

CC♯DE♭EFF♯GG♯AB♭B

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