Melodic minor · D · Guitar
The D Melodic minor scale is D E F G A B C♯ — formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7, step pattern W–H–W–W–W–W–H. Use it over Dm(maj7): it is the scale for minor-major-seventh tonic chords, and as the parent scale of Lydian dominant and Altered. Below, every note is marked on the fretboard in standard tuning; press play to hear it on a synthesized guitar while each note lights up, or tap any fret to sound that note.
Visualizer
Guitar · standard tuning
Piano
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass) in the position starting at fret 5. “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from D | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | E | major 2nd (2 semitones) | H |
| ♭3 | F | minor 3rd (3 semitones) | W |
| 4 | G | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | A | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | B | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | C♯ | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Dm(maj7) (D – F – A – C♯). Use it for: minor-major-seventh tonic chords, and as the parent scale of Lydian dominant and Altered.
Common questions
D E F G A B C♯. As scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
D Melodic minor fits Dm(maj7) and, more generally, minor-major-seventh tonic chords, and as the parent scale of Lydian dominant and Altered.
1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W H W W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Start on the root D on the A string at fret 5, and play the one-octave position shown: A-string fret 5, A-string fret 7, A-string fret 8, D-string fret 5, D-string fret 7, D-string fret 9, G-string fret 6, G-string fret 7. Every D on the neck is a root, so the same shape works in every position where the notes are marked.
Keep going
Same scale on piano · all Melodic minor pages: Melodic minor hub · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from D