Chord Colors

A♯ Melodic Minor Ascending scale

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.

Learn more about the A♯ Melodic Minor Ascending 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
Position 2 of 3

A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)

ii B sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

B sharp minor over D sharp (1st inversion)

III+ C sharp augmented
Position 2 of 3

C sharp augmented over E sharp (1st inversion)

IV D sharp
Position 2 of 3

D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)

V E sharp
Position 2 of 3

E sharp over G double sharp (1st inversion)

vi° F double sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

F double sharp diminished over A sharp (1st inversion)

vii° G double sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

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

1A#A♯Root
2B#B♯Major 2nd
3C#C♯Minor 3rd
4D#D♯Perfect 4th
5E#E♯Perfect 5th
6F##F♯♯Major 6th
7G##G♯♯Major 7th
StepsW H W W W W H
Semitones2-1-2-2-2-2-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Standard fingering

Hand A sharpB sharpC sharpD sharpE sharpF double sharpG double sharpA sharp
Right hand21231234
Left hand21321432

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

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Melodic Minor Ascending in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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Bb Melodic Minor Ascending scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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