D Melodic Minor Charango Scale — Standard
Charango scale in Standard tuning — fretboard diagram
D Melodic Minor in Standard — Notes and Intervals
The D Melodic Minor scale, often called the Jazz Minor, offers a more sophisticated and fluid sound than the natural minor. On Charango, it contains the notes D, E, F, G, A, B, C#. 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 D Melodic Minor are Dm6, Em7, F+maj7, G7, A7, Bm7b5, C#m7b5. 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: D, E, F, G, A, B, C#
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
Tuning: Standard (G-C-E-A-E)
Diatonic Chords
Dm6 — Em7 — F+maj7 — G7 — A7 — Bm7♭5 — C♯m7♭5
About Standard Tuning
The charango is a small Andean string instrument with five courses of doubled strings, tuned G-C-E-A-E. Its reentrant tuning — with the 4th course (A) lower than the outer courses — combined with its tiny body and nylon strings produces a distinctive bright, shimmering tone that evokes the high-altitude landscapes of the Andes.
Originally crafted from armadillo shells in Bolivia and Peru, the modern charango is the soul of Andean folk music. Its ten strings (five doubled courses) create a natural chorus effect, and the reentrant tuning produces a compact voicing range where strummed chords have an almost harp-like quality. Groups like Los Kjarkas and Inti-Illimani brought the charango to international audiences, while virtuosos like Jaime Torres and Ernesto Cavour pushed its technical boundaries. The charango is essential in huayño, bailecito, and carnavalito rhythms.
Notable artists: Los Kjarkas, Jaime Torres, Ernesto Cavour, Inti-Illimani, Gustavo Santaolalla
Best for: Andean folk music, South American ensemble playing, and any composition seeking a bright, shimmering Andean texture