E melodic minor scale
E melodic minor scale is E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D♯, with F♯, C♯ and D♯. Formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7. Press play and follow the keys.
E melodic minor scale, note by note
The step pattern is W H W W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between F♯–G and D♯–E.
| Degree | Note | Interval from E | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root | |
| 2 | F♯ | major second | |
| ♭3 | G | minor third | |
| 4 | A | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | B | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | C♯ | major sixth | |
| 7 | D♯ | major seventh |
How the melodic minor scale sounds
Melodic minor raises both the 6th and the 7th of natural minor. Classical teaching uses it going up and natural minor coming down; jazz players use this ascending form both ways, so that's what's shown here.
Its chords include A and B, both with major thirds, so a melody in E melodic minor can sit over a major IV and V while the tonic stays Em.
Compared with E natural minor scale, E melodic minor scale has C♯ and D♯ where the other has C and D; the other five notes are shared. Hear E natural minor scale and compare.
On piano and on guitar
On the piano it uses three black keys (F♯, C♯ and D♯) and four white.
18 notes fit in the box between frets 0 and 5, with E open on the low E string.
Chords built on each note
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get 7 chords. These are the chords that fit E melodic minor scale; the ones that differ from the major set are what give the scale its color. Tap to hear each one.
E melodic minor scale across the fretboard
Anchor points for E: low E string fret 0 and 12, A string fret 7 (0 = open string). Five overlapping fingerings cover the neck, starting near frets 2, 5, 7, 9 and 12 on the low E string. Classical teaching plays it with the raised notes going up and natural minor coming down; jazz players keep it the same both ways.
On the piano, E melodic minor scale uses 3 black keys (F♯, C♯ and D♯) and 4 white.
Try it in thirds to stop it sounding like an exercise: E–G, F♯–A, G–B, A–C♯, B–D♯, C♯–E, D♯–F♯, then back down.
Practice patterns for E melodic minor scale
Running a scale straight up and down only teaches the order. These patterns use the same 7 notes and train your ear and fingers to jump around inside E melodic minor scale.
- Three-note runs: E F♯ G · F♯ G A · G A B · A B C♯ · B C♯ D♯ · C♯ D♯ E.
- Lean on C♯: E C♯ E C♯ E: the raised 6th and 7th make the top half sound major.
Try next, from E
Melodic minor scale in every key
E melodic minor scale: questions
What are the notes of the E melodic minor scale?
E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D♯, E. As degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7.
How many sharps or flats are in the E melodic minor scale?
Three: F♯, C♯ and D♯.
What chords are in the E melodic minor scale?
Stacking thirds on each note gives Em (i), F♯m (ii), Gaug (III+), A (IV), B (V), C♯dim (vi°) and D♯dim (vii°).
What's the difference between E melodic minor scale and E natural minor scale?
C♯ and D♯ in E melodic minor; C and D in the other. Everything else is the same.
Generated from the step pattern 2-1-2-2-2-2-1 and checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.