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A♭ melodic minor scale

The A♭ melodic minor scale is made of the notes A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G. It has 7 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7.

Minor · 7 notes

Note names
  1. 1A♭
  2. 2B♭
  3. ♭3C♭
  4. 4D♭
  5. 5E♭
  6. 6F
  7. 7G

PatternW – H – W – W – W – W – H(W = whole step, H = half step)

Three variants with a minor third: natural, harmonic (raised seventh) and melodic (raised sixth and seventh). Degrees are shown relative to the major scale: ♭3 is the third lowered by a half step, ♯4 the fourth raised.

Mode and chords

The minor with a raised 6th and 7th, that is a major scale with a minor 3rd. In classical music it goes up this way and comes down as a natural minor; in jazz (jazz minor) it uses the same notes both ways and is the source of many modern scales.

Put it into practice

The scale played in thirds over one octave: one of the exercises MEG generates from this scale.

This scale is not part of the demo: in the MEG app you will find it in every key, with 24 patterns.

Chords built on the scale

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the A♭ melodic minor scale?
The notes are A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G.
What is the pattern of the A♭ melodic minor scale?
The sequence of steps is W – H – W – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step); compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7.
Which chords is the A♭ melodic minor scale used over?
It is used over A♭m(maj7), A♭m6: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.