About the D sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scale
D 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 D♯ Major with the third lowered.
Its notes are D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, and C♯♯. 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.
On the piano, the mode touches the black keys D♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯.
Chords in the key of D sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E sharp minor over G sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F sharp augmented over A sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G sharp over B sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A sharp over C double sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B sharp diminished over D sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C double sharp diminished over E sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in D sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
D sharp minor major seven
E sharp minor seven
F sharp major seven sharp five
G sharp seven
A sharp seven
B sharp minor seven flat five
C double sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in D sharp Melodic Minor Ascending
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | D#D♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | E#E♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | F#F♯ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | G#G♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | A#A♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | B#B♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | C##C♯♯ | 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 | D sharp | E sharp | F sharp | G sharp | A sharp | B sharp | C double sharp | D sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Practicing it
In the right hand, the thumb comes under on E♯ and B♯. The left thumb lands on E♯ and B♯, and the hand crosses back over it from there. Each hand puts its thumb on E♯ and B♯, so the crossings happen at the same moment in both. The black keys D♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯ fall to the long fingers, anchored by the fourth finger on A♯, which leaves the thumb on white keys throughout.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Melodic Minor Ascending in other keys
C Melodic Minor Ascending scaleC sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scaleD Melodic Minor Ascending scaleE Melodic Minor Ascending scaleF Melodic Minor Ascending scaleF sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scaleG Melodic Minor Ascending scaleG sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scaleA Melodic Minor Ascending scaleA sharp Melodic Minor Ascending scaleB Melodic Minor Ascending scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
Embed this scale
