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Piano scale

E Melodic Minor Scale

The E Melodic Minor Scale has 7 notes: E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D♯.

  1. E
    1
  2. F♯
    2
  3. G
    3
  4. A
    4
  5. B
    5
  6. C♯
    6
  7. D♯
    7

Notes of the E Melodic Minor Scale

DegreeNotesIntervalsFormula
1ERoot1
2F♯Major 2nd2
3GMinor 3rd♭3
4APerfect 4th4
5BPerfect 5th5
6C♯Major 6th6
7D♯Major 7th7

Step pattern

W – H – W – W – W – W – H

From the root to the octave the scale moves in this pattern: W – H – W – W – W – W – H.

W = whole step (2 semitones), H = half step (1 semitone), W+H = 3 semitones

Sound and character

Melodic minor raises both the 6th and 7th going up, then reverts to natural minor going down. A jazz favorite for its smoothness.

Sound: Sophisticated & fluid

Chords in the E Melodic Minor Scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree to get its chords.

DegreeTriads7th chords
iEmEm(maj7)
iiF♯mF♯m7
III+Gaug—
IVAA7
VBB7
vi°C♯dimC♯m7♭5
vii°D♯dimD♯m7♭5

How to use it

Classical pianists play it with raised 6th and 7th going up and natural minor coming down; jazz players use the ascending form both ways.

Chords, key signature and progressions: E Minor key

Songs that use it

  • Misty · Erroll Garner
    Jazz
  • Black Orpheus · Luiz Bonfá
    Bossa Nova
  • My Funny Valentine · Chet Baker
    Jazz

Play the E Melodic Minor Scale with different sounds in the interactive builder.

Open in the chord builder

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