About the A sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scale
A sharp 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.
The black keys A♯, C♯, and D♯ belong to A♯ Melodic Minor Ascending.
Chords in the key of A sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i A sharp minor
A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)
ii B sharp minor
B sharp minor over D sharp (1st inversion)
III+ C sharp augmented
C sharp augmented over E sharp (1st inversion)
IV D sharp
D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)
V E sharp
E sharp over G double sharp (1st inversion)
vi° F double sharp diminished
F double sharp diminished over A sharp (1st inversion)
vii° G double sharp diminished
G double sharp diminished over B sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i A sharp minor major seven
A sharp minor major seven
ii B sharp minor seven
B sharp minor seven
III+ C sharp major seven sharp five
C sharp major seven sharp five
IV D sharp seven
D sharp seven
V E sharp seven
E sharp seven
vi° F double sharp minor seven flat five
F double sharp minor seven flat five
vii° G double sharp minor seven flat five
G double sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in A sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | A#A♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | B#B♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C#C♯ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | D#D♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E#E♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F##F♯♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | G##G♯♯ | 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 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | A sharp | B sharp | C sharp | D sharp | E sharp | F double sharp | G double sharp | A sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Practicing it
The right hand changes position on B♯ and E♯, where the thumb crosses under. The left hand crosses over its thumb on B♯ and E♯. B♯ and E♯ carry the thumb in both hands, which keeps the two crossings lined up. A♯, C♯, and D♯ are the black keys the long fingers take, with the fourth finger anchoring on A♯, which is what keeps the thumb clear of them.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Melodic Minor Ascending in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.