About the F Melodic Minor Ascending scale
F 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 F Major with the third lowered.
Its notes are F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, and E. 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.
Two of the notes in F Melodic Minor Ascending are black keys, A♭ and B♭.
Chords in the key of F Melodic Minor Ascending
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i F minor
F minor over A flat (1st inversion)
ii G minor
G minor over B flat (1st inversion)
III+ A flat augmented
A flat augmented over C (1st inversion)
IV B flat
B flat over D (1st inversion)
V C
C over E (1st inversion)
vi° D diminished
D diminished over F (1st inversion)
vii° E diminished
E diminished over G (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in F Melodic Minor Ascending
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i F minor major seven
F minor major seven
ii G minor seven
G minor seven
III+ A flat major seven sharp five
A flat major seven sharp five
IV B flat seven
B flat seven
V C seven
C seven
vi° D minor seven flat five
D minor seven flat five
vii° E minor seven flat five
E minor seven flat five
Progressions in F Melodic Minor Ascending
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | FF | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | GG | Major 2nd |
| 3 | AbA♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | BbB♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | CC | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | DD | Major 6th |
| 7 | EE | 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 | F | G | A flat | B flat | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
In the right hand, the thumb comes under on C. The left thumb lands on C, and the hand crosses back over it from there. C carries the thumb in both hands, which keeps the two crossings lined up. A♭ and B♭ are the black keys the long fingers take, with the fourth finger anchoring on B♭, 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.