Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Melodic Minor Scales

The Melodic Minor Scale differs from the Natural Minor Scale by the sixth and seventh notes, which are raised one semi-step. This scale is kind of peculiar since it is sometimes played differently ascending and descending.

Jazz: The sixth and seventh notes are always raised, exactly as the pictures below illustrate. This is the most modern approach to this scale.
Classical music: When you go up the scale, you use the Melodic Minor Scale, but when you go down the scale you use the Natural Minor Scale. For the Melodic Scale in A, it will look like this:
Ascending: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A
Descending: A, G, F, E, D, C, B, A

Melodic Minor Scales overview (auxiliary notes in descending scale in parentheses)
A: A, B, C, D, E, F# (F), G# (G), A
A#/Bb: Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G (Ab), A (Ab), Bb
B: B, C#, D, E, F#, G# (G), A# (A), B
C: C, D, Eb, F, G, A (Ab), B (Bb), C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A# (A), C (B), C#
D: D, E, F, G, A, B (Bb), C# (C), D
D#/Eb: D#, F, F#, G#, A#, C (B), D (C#), D#
E: E, F#, G, A, B, C# (C), D# (D), E
F: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D (Db), E (Eb), F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A, B, C#, D# (D), F (E), F#
G: G, A, Bb, C, D, E (Eb), F# (F), G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, F (E), G (F#), G#

Intervals and steps
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Semi-notes : 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1
Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half