C Melodic Minor Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
C Melodic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Melodic Minor scale, often called the Jazz Minor, offers a more sophisticated and fluid sound than the natural minor. On Mandolin, it contains the notes C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B. 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 C Melodic Minor are Cm6, Dm7, Eb+maj7, F7, G7, Am7b5, Bm7b5. 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: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B
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
Cm6 — Dm7 — E♭+maj7 — F7 — G7 — Am7♭5 — Bm7♭5
Musical Character
In jazz, only the ascending form is used (1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7). It is the parent scale for seven crucial modes including the Altered scale and Lydian Dominant.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Contemporary Classical, Progressive
Notable players: Pat Metheny, John Coltrane, Allan Holdsworth
How to Use the C Melodic Minor Scale
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.
Origin & Background
Classical form ascends differently than it descends. Jazz musicians adopted the ascending form exclusively, making it the cornerstone of modern improvisation.
How to Play C Melodic Minor on Mandolin
Begin by locating C on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Melodic Minor scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The C Melodic Minor scale contains 1 flat (Eb). Its relative major is Eb major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the C 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 C Melodic Minor scale: Cm6 - F7 - G7 - Cm6 (I-IV-V-I) or Cm6 - Dm7 - F7 - G7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in progressive contexts.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the C Melodic Minor scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a sophisticated quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- vi – viM7 – vi7 – II (Descending Minor Cliché)Classical / Pop — Romance & Intrigue
The C Melodic Minor scale contains 7 notes (C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Melodic Minor
The C 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 C Melodic Minor Further
- Browse chord progressions
- C Melodic Minor on Guitar
- C Melodic Minor on Ukulele
- C Melodic Minor on Bass
- C Melodic Minor on Piano