About the A flat Melodic Minor Ascending scale
A flat Melodic Minor Ascending is used for jazz, film scores and classical melodies that rise out of a minor key. Think of it as a minor scale with a major sixth and seventh on the way up, smooth and modern. It is A♭ Major with the third lowered.
Its notes are A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, and G. The formula is W H W W W W H.
Also called Jazz Minor and Melodic Minor. Jazz players usually call this scale the jazz minor scale.
An unfretted guitar already sounds G and B from the key. Down at the 4th fret of the low E string lies the lowest A♭ a guitar can play. Capo the first fret to play A♭ Melodic Minor Ascending with G-shape fingerings.
Positions
Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.
CAGED
Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.
3NPS
3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.
7-position system
7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.
Chords in the key of A flat Melodic Minor Ascending
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i A flat minor
ii B flat minor
III+ C flat augmented
IV D flat
V E flat
vi° F diminished
vii° G diminished
Seventh chords in A flat Melodic Minor Ascending
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i A flat minor major seven
ii B flat minor seven
III+ C flat major seven sharp five
IV D flat seven
V E flat seven
vi° F minor seven flat five
vii° G minor seven flat five
Progressions in A flat Melodic Minor Ascending
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbB♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | CbC♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FF | Major 6th |
| 7 | GG | Major 7th |
| Steps | W H W W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Melodic Minor Ascending in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.