Melodic minor is especially useful here because the ascending and descending forms diverge. The tables show the ascending form for clarity, while the playback returns through the classical natural-minor descent.
Melodic minor formula
W-H-W-W-W-W-H
In these tables, melodic minor means the classical ascending form: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole, half. The descent returns through natural minor, so the page highlights the ascending spelling while the playback resolves by the classical descending form.
15 Melodic Minor Scales
These tables show the classical ascending melodic-minor form, which raises the sixth and seventh degrees. The playback returns through the natural-minor form on the way down.
1. Center
A melodic minor raises F to F♯ and G to G♯ on the way up, then returns through natural minor on the way down.
A Melodic Minor
0♯·0♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
A
B
C
D
E
F♯
G♯
A
Normal
A
B
C
D
E
F sharp
G sharp
A
Traditional Fixed-Do
La
Si
Do
Re
Mi
Fa*
Sol*
La
Hybrid Fixed-Do
La
Ti
Do
Re
Mi
Fi
Si
La
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
A
B
C
D
E
Fah
Gah
A
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗ABCDEF♯G♯A↘AGFEDCBA
SingLets:↗A B C D E Fah Gah A↘A G Fi E D C B A
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
2. Clockwise / Sharp Side
On the sharp side, melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh degrees while preserving the original letter spellings in E melodic minor, B melodic minor, F♯ melodic minor, C♯ melodic minor, G♯ melodic minor, D♯ melodic minor, and A♯ melodic minor.
E Melodic Minor
1♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
E
F♯
G
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
Normal
E
F sharp
G
A
B
C sharp
D sharp
E
Traditional Fixed-Do
Mi
Fa*
Sol
La
Si
Do*
Re*
Mi
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Mi
Fi
Sol
La
Ti
Di
Ri
Mi
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
E
Fah
G
A
B
Cah
Dah
E
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗EF♯GABC♯D♯E↘EDCBAGF♯E
SingLets:↗E Fah G A B Cah Dah E↘E D C B A G Fah E
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
* For singing comfort, this piano preview sounds one octave lower than the staff notation.
B Melodic Minor
2♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
B
C♯
D
E
F♯
G♯
A♯
B
Normal
B
C sharp
D
E
F sharp
G sharp
A sharp
B
Traditional Fixed-Do
Si
Do*
Re
Mi
Fa*
Sol*
La*
Si
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Ti
Di
Re
Mi
Fi
Si
Li
Ti
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
B
Cah
D
E
Fah
Gah
Ah
B
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗BC♯DEF♯G♯A♯B↘BAGF♯EDC♯B
SingLets:↗B Cah D E Fah Gah Ah B↘B A G Fah E D Cah B
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
Continue reading Clockwise / Sharp Side
F♯ Melodic Minor
3♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E♯
F♯
Normal
F sharp
G sharp
A
B
C sharp
D sharp
E sharp
F sharp
Traditional Fixed-Do
Fa*
Sol*
La
Si
Do*
Re*
Mi*
Fa*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Fi
Si
La
Ti
Di
Ri
Fa
Fi
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Fah
Gah
A
B
Cah
Dah
Eah
Fah
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗F♯G♯ABC♯D♯E♯F♯↘F♯EDC♯BAG♯F♯
SingLets:↗Fah Gah A B Cah Dah Eah Fah↘Fah E D Cah B A Gah Fah
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
C♯ Melodic Minor
4♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A♯
B♯
C♯
Normal
C sharp
D sharp
E
F sharp
G sharp
A sharp
B sharp
C sharp
Traditional Fixed-Do
Do*
Re*
Mi
Fa*
Sol*
La*
Si*
Do*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Di
Ri
Mi
Fi
Si
Li
Do
Di
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Cah
Dah
E
Fah
Gah
Ah
Bah
Cah
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗C♯D♯EF♯G♯A♯B♯C♯↘C♯BAG♯F♯ED♯C♯
SingLets:↗Cah Dah E Fah Gah Ah Bah Cah↘Cah B A Gah Fah E Dah Cah
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
G♯ Melodic Minor
5♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
G♯
A♯
B
C♯
D♯
E♯
F♯♯
G♯
Normal
G sharp
A sharp
B
C sharp
D sharp
E sharp
F double sharp
G sharp
Traditional Fixed-Do
Sol*
La*
Si
Do*
Re*
Mi*
Fa*
Sol*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Si
Li
Ti
Di
Ri
Fa
Sol
Si
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Gah
Ah
B
Cah
Dah
Eah
Faw
Gah
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯♯G♯↘G♯F♯ED♯C♯BA♯G♯
SingLets:↗Gah Ah B Cah Dah Eah Faw Gah↘Gah Fah E Dah Cah B Ah Gah
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
D♯ Melodic Minor
6♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
D♯
E♯
F♯
G♯
A♯
B♯
C♯♯
D♯
Normal
D sharp
E sharp
F sharp
G sharp
A sharp
B sharp
C double sharp
D sharp
Traditional Fixed-Do
Re*
Mi*
Fa*
Sol*
La*
Si*
Do*
Re*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Ri
Fa
Fi
Si
Li
Do
Re
Ri
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Dah
Eah
Fah
Gah
Ah
Bah
Caw
Dah
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯B♯C♯♯D♯↘D♯C♯BA♯G♯F♯E♯D♯
SingLets:↗Dah Eah Fah Gah Ah Bah Caw Dah↘Dah Cah B Ah Gah Fah Eah Dah
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
A♯ Melodic Minor
7♯
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
A♯
B♯
C♯
D♯
E♯
F♯♯
G♯♯
A♯
Normal
A sharp
B sharp
C sharp
D sharp
E sharp
F double sharp
G double sharp
A sharp
Traditional Fixed-Do
La*
Si*
Do*
Re*
Mi*
Fa*
Sol*
La*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Li
Do
Di
Ri
Fa
Sol
La
Li
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Ah
Bah
Cah
Dah
Eah
Faw
Gaw
Ah
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
On the flat side, the ascending melodic-minor form often removes one or two flats before descending back through natural minor in D melodic minor, G melodic minor, C melodic minor, F melodic minor, B♭ melodic minor, E♭ melodic minor, and A♭ melodic minor.
D Melodic Minor
1♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
D
E
F
G
A
B
C♯
D
Normal
D
E
F
G
A
B
C sharp
D
Traditional Fixed-Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Si
Do*
Re
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Di
Re
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
D
E
Fi
G
A
B
Cah
D
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗DEFGABC♯D↘DCB♭AGFED
SingLets:↗D E Fi G A B Cah D↘D C Beh A G Fi E D
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
G Melodic Minor
2♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
G
A
B♭
C
D
E
F♯
G
Normal
G
A
B flat
C
D
E
F sharp
G
Traditional Fixed-Do
Sol
La
Si*
Do
Re
Mi
Fa*
Sol
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Sol
La
Te
Do
Re
Mi
Fi
Sol
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
G
A
Beh
C
D
E
Fah
G
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗GAB♭CDEF♯G↘GFE♭DCB♭AG
SingLets:↗G A Beh C D E Fah G↘G Fi Eeh D C Beh A G
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
Continue reading Anticlockwise / Flat Side
C Melodic Minor
3♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
C
D
E♭
F
G
A
B
C
Normal
C
D
E flat
F
G
A
B
C
Traditional Fixed-Do
Do
Re
Mi*
Fa
Sol
La
Si
Do
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Do
Re
Me
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
C
D
Eeh
Fi
G
A
B
C
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗CDE♭FGABC↘CB♭A♭GFE♭DC
SingLets:↗C D Eeh Fi G A B C↘C Beh Aeh G Fi Eeh D C
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
F Melodic Minor
4♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
F
G
A♭
B♭
C
D
E
F
Normal
F
G
A flat
B flat
C
D
E
F
Traditional Fixed-Do
Fa
Sol
La*
Si*
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Fa
Sol
Le
Te
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Fi
G
Aeh
Beh
C
D
E
Fi
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗FGA♭B♭CDEF↘FE♭D♭CB♭A♭GF
SingLets:↗Fi G Aeh Beh C D E Fi↘Fi Eeh Deh C Beh Aeh G Fi
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
B♭ Melodic Minor
5♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G
A
B♭
Normal
B flat
C
D flat
E flat
F
G
A
B flat
Traditional Fixed-Do
Si*
Do
Re*
Mi*
Fa
Sol
La
Si*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Te
Do
Ra
Me
Fa
Sol
La
Te
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Beh
C
Deh
Eeh
Fi
G
A
Beh
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗B♭CD♭E♭FGAB♭↘B♭A♭G♭FE♭D♭CB♭
SingLets:↗Beh C Deh Eeh Fi G A Beh↘Beh Aeh Geh Fi Eeh Deh C Beh
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
E♭ Melodic Minor
6♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D
E♭
Normal
E flat
F
G flat
A flat
B flat
C
D
E flat
Traditional Fixed-Do
Mi*
Fa
Sol*
La*
Si*
Do
Re
Mi*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Me
Fa
Se
Le
Te
Do
Re
Me
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Eeh
Fi
Geh
Aeh
Beh
C
D
Eeh
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗E♭FG♭A♭B♭CDE♭↘E♭D♭C♭B♭A♭G♭FE♭
SingLets:↗Eeh Fi Geh Aeh Beh C D Eeh↘Eeh Deh Ceh Beh Aeh Geh Fi Eeh
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
A♭ Melodic Minor
7♭
Degree
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
A♭
B♭
C♭
D♭
E♭
F
G
A♭
Normal
A flat
B flat
C flat
D flat
E flat
F
G
A flat
Traditional Fixed-Do
La*
Si*
Do*
Re*
Mi*
Fa
Sol
La*
Hybrid Fixed-Do
Le
Te
Ti
Ra
Me
Fa
Sol
Le
Movable-Do
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
Sol
La
Ti
Do
SingLet
Aeh
Beh
Ceh
Deh
Eeh
Fi
G
Aeh
* In the Traditional Fixed-Do system, accidentals keep the natural syllable names; these syllables are sung at their notated pitches.
Notes:↗A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FGA♭↘A♭G♭F♭E♭D♭C♭B♭A♭
SingLets:↗Aeh Beh Ceh Deh Eeh Fi G Aeh↘Aeh Geh Feh Eeh Deh Ceh Beh Aeh
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
The 3 Enharmonic Melodic-Minor Pairs
G♯ Minor / A♭ Minor
These melodic-minor pairings compare the same sounding ascending forms while keeping each enharmonic spelling and the natural-minor descent distinct.
G♯ Melodic Minor
5♯
Deg.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
G♯
A♯
B
C♯
D♯
E♯
F♯♯
G♯
SingLet
Gah
Ah
B
Cah
Dah
Eah
Faw
Gah
Notes:G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯F♯♯G♯|G♯F♯ED♯C♯BA♯G♯
SingLets: Gah Ah B Cah Dah Eah Faw Gah|Gah Fah E Dah Cah B Ah Gah
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
A♭ Melodic Minor
7♭
Deg.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
A♭
B♭
C♭
D♭
E♭
F
G
A♭
SingLet
Aeh
Beh
Ceh
Deh
Eeh
Fi
G
Aeh
Notes:A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FGA♭|A♭G♭F♭E♭D♭C♭B♭A♭
SingLets: Aeh Beh Ceh Deh Eeh Fi G Aeh|Aeh Geh Feh Eeh Deh Ceh Beh Aeh
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
Continue reading enharmonic pairs
The 3 Enharmonic Melodic-Minor Pairs
D♯ Minor / E♭ Minor
These melodic-minor pairings compare the same sounding ascending forms while keeping each enharmonic spelling and the natural-minor descent distinct.
D♯ Melodic Minor
6♯
Deg.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
D♯
E♯
F♯
G♯
A♯
B♯
C♯♯
D♯
SingLet
Dah
Eah
Fah
Gah
Ah
Bah
Caw
Dah
Notes:D♯E♯F♯G♯A♯B♯C♯♯D♯|D♯C♯BA♯G♯F♯E♯D♯
SingLets: Dah Eah Fah Gah Ah Bah Caw Dah|Dah Cah B Ah Gah Fah Eah Dah
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
E♭ Melodic Minor
6♭
Deg.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Note
E♭
F
G♭
A♭
B♭
C
D
E♭
SingLet
Eeh
Fi
Geh
Aeh
Beh
C
D
Eeh
Notes:E♭FG♭A♭B♭CDE♭|E♭D♭C♭B♭A♭G♭FE♭
SingLets: Eeh Fi Geh Aeh Beh C D Eeh|Eeh Deh Ceh Beh Aeh Geh Fi Eeh
0:00.00:00.0
Full playback
Ready
The 3 Enharmonic Melodic-Minor Pairs
A♯ Minor / B♭ Minor
These melodic-minor pairings compare the same sounding ascending forms while keeping each enharmonic spelling and the natural-minor descent distinct.