Notes in the C Melodic Minor scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Tonic |
| 2 | D | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | E♭ | Mediant |
| 4 | F | Subdominant |
| 5 | G | Dominant |
| 6 | A | Submediant |
| 7 | B | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D E♭ F G A B.
C 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 C Melodic Minor scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | Cm(maj7) |
| ii | Dm | Dm7 |
| III+ | E♭+ | E♭7♯5 |
| IV | F | F7 |
| V | G | G7 |
| vi° | A° | Aø7 |
| vii° | B° | Bø7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Natural minor: C Natural Minor
How to practise the C 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 C Melodic Minor scale?
The notes of the C Melodic Minor scale are C D E♭ F G A B.
What is the formula for the C 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 C Melodic Minor scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Cm, Dm, E♭+, F, G, A°, B°.
More C scales
C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Lydian Dominant, C Altered, C Whole Tone, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Mixolydian ♭6, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C 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.