Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
F♯ Melodic minor
Natural 6th and 7th over a minor 3rd. Smooth, jazzy minor.
Where you hear it: Minor-major tonic: m(maj7).
Step pattern W – H – W – W – W – W – H
- Compared with F♯ major: ♭3 A♯ → A
- Compared with F♯ natural minor: ♯6 D → D♯, ♯7 E → E♯
F♯ Melodic minor on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♭3 4 5 7: playedother notes of Melodic minor: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as F♯ Melodic minor
Every chord in F♯ Melodic minor
- F♯m(maj7)1/6mediumfret 9
- G♯m71/15easyfret 4· shell
- Amaj7♯51/10easyfret 5· shell
- B71/21easyopen
- C♯71/18easyfret 6· shell
- D♯m7♭51/15easyfret 1
- E♯m7♭51/12easyfret 1· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in F♯ Melodic minor
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
i – IV
The minor-major tonic and a dominant IV7. The IV7 carries the natural 6th, which gives melodic minor its smooth, jazzy lift.
ii – V – i
A ii–V–i with a minor-major tonic. The i(maj7) holds the raised 7th, so the home chord still has a leading tone in it.
i – ♭III+ – IV
The augmented ♭III chord between i and IV. Its raised 5th is the 7th of the scale.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From F♯m you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of F♯ Melodic minor.
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Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.