G# Melodic Minor Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
G# Melodic Minor in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The G# 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 G#, A#, B, C#, D#, F, G. 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 G# Melodic Minor are G#m6, A#m7, B+maj7, C#7, D#7, Fm7b5, Gm7b5. 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: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, F, G
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: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
Diatonic Chords
G♯m6 — A♯m7 — B+maj7 — C♯7 — D♯7 — Fm7♭5 — Gm7♭5
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- G# Melodic Minor in Standard Tuning
- G# Melodic Minor in Drop D
- G# Melodic Minor in DADGAD
- G# Melodic Minor in Open G
- G# Melodic Minor in Baritone (B Standard)
- G# Melodic Minor in 7-string
- G# Melodic Minor in 8-string
- G# Melodic Minor in Drop C
- G# Melodic Minor in Drop B
- G# Melodic Minor in Half Step Down
- G# Melodic Minor in Open E
- G# Melodic Minor in Open A
- G# Melodic Minor in Double Drop D
- G# Melodic Minor in Open C