Notes in the A Melodic Minor scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tonic |
| 2 | B | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | C | Mediant |
| 4 | D | Subdominant |
| 5 | E | Dominant |
| 6 | F♯ | Submediant |
| 7 | G♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C D E F♯ G♯.
A Melodic Minor scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – W – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7.
Chords in the A Melodic Minor scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Am | Am(maj7) |
| ii | Bm | Bm7 |
| III+ | C+ | C7♯5 |
| IV | D | D7 |
| V | E | E7 |
| vi° | F♯° | F♯ø7 |
| vii° | G♯° | G♯ø7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Natural minor: A Natural Minor
How to practise the A Melodic Minor scale
Learn it as natural minor with both the 6th and 7th raised. Classical convention uses this form going up and natural minor coming down; jazz players keep the raised form both ways.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the A Melodic Minor scale?
The notes of the A Melodic Minor scale are A B C D E F♯ G♯.
What is the formula for the A Melodic Minor scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – W – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7.
What chords are in the A Melodic Minor scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Am, Bm, C+, D, E, F♯°, G♯°.
More A scales
A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.