Chord & FretMelodic minor (A)
It was born to smooth out harmonic minor: besides the 7th, the 6th also rises a half step, removing the step-and-a-half leap so the melody flows evenly up to the tonic. In the classical tradition it is directional — in practice, it climbs one way and comes back down as natural minor; in jazz, the fixed version (the "jazz minor") rules: the same notes in both directions, spawning seven modes of its own and fitting m(maj7) and m6 chords. You hear it often in jazz and in the more sophisticated harmony of MPB and bossa nova.
Example: A – B – C – D – E – F# – G#Formula: 1 – 2 – b3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7In the formula, the numbers are degrees — positions counted in the reference major scale; "b" lowers a half step and "#" raises one.
Family: The three forms of the minor scale.
"Minor scale" can mean different structures. Classical melodic minor is directional (ascends with major 6th and 7th, descends as natural); jazz minor is treated as a fixed collection and generates its own seven modes.
Chords in the harmonic field
These are the seven chords born from this scale — one built on each of its notes. Put another way: the set of chords that sounds naturally "inside" the scale. See the harmonic field of every key →
Am(maj7)Bm7Cmaj7#5D7E7F#m7b5G#m7b5The same scale on all four instruments
In the diagrams, each dot carries its scale degree — 1 is the tonic, highlighted.
What you see above is one box of melodic minor per instrument; the full map lives in the app. In Chord & Fret, you drill it in Exercise mode — in thirds, pairs or sequences, with the BPM climbing every repetition; switch the dot labels between degrees, note names and fingers; and turn on the built-in metronome at the same BPM. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. 100% offline. See it in Chord & Fret →