Chord Colors

F Melodic Minor Ascending scale

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.

Learn more about the F Melodic Minor Ascending 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
Position 2 of 3

F minor over A flat (1st inversion)

ii G minor
Position 2 of 3

G minor over B flat (1st inversion)

III+ A flat augmented
Position 2 of 3

A flat augmented over C (1st inversion)

IV B flat
Position 2 of 3

B flat over D (1st inversion)

V C
Position 2 of 3

C over E (1st inversion)

vi° D diminished
Position 2 of 3

D diminished over F (1st inversion)

vii° E diminished
Position 2 of 3

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

1FFRoot
2GGMajor 2nd
3AbA♭Minor 3rd
4BbB♭Perfect 4th
5CCPerfect 5th
6DDMajor 6th
7EEMajor 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 FGA flatB flatCDEF
Right hand12341234
Left hand54321321

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

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