D Melodic Minor Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
D Melodic Minor Scale — 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 Ukulele, 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
Diatonic Chords
Dm6 — Em7 — F+maj7 — G7 — A7 — Bm7♭5 — C♯m7♭5
How to Play D Melodic Minor on Ukulele
On ukulele, find D on the fret 2 area, and work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The D Melodic Minor scale contains 1 sharp (C#). Its relative major is F major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the D 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 D Melodic Minor scale: Dm6 - G7 - A7 - Dm6 (I-IV-V-I) or Dm6 - Em7 - G7 - A7 for a more stepwise movement.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the D Melodic Minor scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound.
The D Melodic Minor scale contains 7 notes (D, E, F, G, A, B, C#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Melodic Minor
The D Melodic Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore D Melodic Minor Further
- Harmonize the D Melodic Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Melodic Minor on Guitar
- D Melodic Minor on Bass
- D Melodic Minor on Piano