E Melodic Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Half Step Down tuning — fretboard diagram
E Melodic Minor in Half Step Down — Notes and Intervals
The E Melodic Minor scale, often called the Jazz Minor, offers a more sophisticated and fluid sound than the natural minor. On Guitar, it contains the notes E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D#. 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 E Melodic Minor are Em6, F#m7, G+maj7, A7, B7, C#m7b5, D#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: E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D#
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: Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
Diatonic Chords
Em6 — F♯m7 — G+maj7 — A7 — B7 — C♯m7♭5 — D♯m7♭5
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- E Melodic Minor in Standard Tuning
- E Melodic Minor in Drop D
- E Melodic Minor in DADGAD
- E Melodic Minor in Open G
- E Melodic Minor in Baritone (B Standard)
- E Melodic Minor in 7-string
- E Melodic Minor in 8-string
- E Melodic Minor in Drop C
- E Melodic Minor in Drop B
- E Melodic Minor in Open D
- E Melodic Minor in Open E
- E Melodic Minor in Open A
- E Melodic Minor in Double Drop D
- E Melodic Minor in Open C