Guitar scale reference
F Melodic Minor scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Melodic minor combines a minor 3rd with natural 6th and 7th degrees. FretShuffle uses the modern ascending form consistently in both directions so every position shares one stable interval map.
What gives the scale its sound
The natural 6th and major 7th create a smoother climb to the root than natural minor, while the minor 3rd preserves the minor centre. Hearing those three degrees together is essential.
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7
- Notes in F
- F · G · A♭ · B♭ · C · D · E
F Melodic Minor across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------0--1--3--4--3--1--0-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------1--3-----------------------3--1-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------0--1--3-----------------------------------3--1--0----------------------------| D|-------------------0--2--3-----------------------------------------------------3--2--0-------------------| A|-------------1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------3--1-------------| E|-0--1--3--4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4--3--1--0-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 2–6
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------3--4--6--4--3-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------3--5--6-----------------6--5--3----------------------------------| G|----------------------------3--5-----------------------------------5--3----------------------------| D|----------------2--3--5--6-----------------------------------------------6--5--3--2----------------| A|----------3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------5--3----------| E|-3--4--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--4--3-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------4--6--8--6--4-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------5--6--8-----------------8--6--5----------------------------------| G|----------------------------5--7-----------------------------------7--5----------------------------| D|-------------------5--6--8-----------------------------------------------8--6--5-------------------| A|----------5--7--8-----------------------------------------------------------------8--7--5----------| E|-4--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--6--4-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------8-10--8-------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------8--9-11----------11--9--8----------------------------------| G|-------------------------7--9-10----------------------------10--9--7-------------------------| D|-------------------8-10----------------------------------------------10--8-------------------| A|-------7--8-10-11----------------------------------------------------------11-10--8--7-------| E|-8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------10-12-13-12-10----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------9-11-13----------------13-11--9-------------------------------------| G|-------------------------9-10-12-13----------------------------------13-12-10--9-------------------------| D|------------------10-12----------------------------------------------------------12-10-------------------| A|---------10-11-13----------------------------------------------------------------------13-11-10----------| E|10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10-|
Practice drill
Compare melodic minor with major in the same position and isolate the single changed note: the 3rd. Then compare it with natural minor and locate both raised degrees before connecting shapes.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser