C Melodic Minor scale on guitar
sophisticated · ambiguous · fluid
About the Melodic Minor scale
Minor with a raised 6th and 7th: smooth, sophisticated, slightly ambiguous. The workhorse of modern jazz minor playing.
When to use it: Minor-key lines that need to climb gracefully to the tonic; jazz minor ii-V-i.
Watch out: Its brightness can feel wrong in raw folk or rock minor contexts.
Notes
Genres
Diatonic chords — tap any of them
These chords are built using only the notes of this scale — one on each degree. That's why they all sound "at home" together: they're the harmonic family of C Melodic Minor.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Melodic Minor scale?
The C Melodic Minor scale contains the notes C, D, D#, F, G, A, B. On this page you can see them highlighted on the instrument and hear how the scale sounds.
What does the Melodic Minor scale sound like?
Every scale has its own color. Melodic Minor is best experienced by ear — press play above to hear C Melodic Minor and watch each note light up.
Which chords can I build from C Melodic Minor?
The diatonic chords of C Melodic Minor include Cm, Dm, D#aug, F, G, Adim, Bdim. They all share the scale's notes, which is why they sound at home together.