A# Melodic Minor Piano Scale
Piano scale diagramAdvanced
A# Melodic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A# Melodic Minor scale, often called the Jazz Minor, offers a more sophisticated and fluid sound than the natural minor. On Piano, it contains the notes A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, A. It is a vital tool for modern jazz improvisation, allowing players to navigate complex dominant chords and create elegant, tension-filled melodic lines that avoid the exotic jump of the harmonic minor. The diatonic chords of A# Melodic Minor are A#m6, Cm7, C#+maj7, D#7, F7, Gm7b5, Am7b5. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Contemporary Classical, Progressive. Notable players include Pat Metheny, John Coltrane, Allan Holdsworth. Use over m(Maj7), m6 chords. Its modes cover nearly every altered dominant situation in jazz. The 'jazz minor' is the single most important advanced scale system.
Notes: A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, A
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
Formula: W-H-W-W-W-W-H
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
A♯m6 — Cm7 — C♯+maj7 — D♯7 — F7 — Gm7♭5 — Am7♭5
Musical Character
In jazz, only the ascending form is used (1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7). It is the parent scale for seven crucial modes including the Altered scale and Lydian Dominant.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Contemporary Classical, Progressive
Notable players: Pat Metheny, John Coltrane, Allan Holdsworth
How to Use the A# Melodic Minor Scale
Use over m(Maj7), m6 chords. Its modes cover nearly every altered dominant situation in jazz. The 'jazz minor' is the single most important advanced scale system.
Origin & Background
Classical form ascends differently than it descends. Jazz musicians adopted the ascending form exclusively, making it the cornerstone of modern improvisation.
How to Play A# Melodic Minor on Piano
On piano, the A# Melodic Minor scale uses 3 black keys. Start with your thumb on A# and use the black keys as landmarks for consistent finger placement. Standard major or minor fingering patterns apply.
The A# Melodic Minor scale contains 3 sharps (A#, C#, D#). Its relative major is C# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the A# Melodic Minor scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Try these progressions with the A# Melodic Minor scale: A#m6 - D#7 - F7 - A#m6 (I-IV-V-I) or A#m6 - Cm7 - D#7 - F7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Piano Tips
On piano, practice the A# Melodic Minor scale hands together in contrary motion (one hand ascending, the other descending). This builds independence and strengthens your awareness of the scale's symmetry. Aim for a sophisticated quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The A# Melodic Minor scale contains 7 notes (A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, A). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.