G Melodic Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open A tuning — fretboard diagram
G Melodic Minor in Open A — 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, Bb, C, D, E, F#. 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 Gm6, Am7, Bb+maj7, C7, D7, Em7b5, F#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: G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F#
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 A (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
Diatonic Chords
Gm6 — Am7 — B♭+maj7 — C7 — D7 — Em7♭5 — F♯m7♭5
About Open A Tuning
Open A tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) produces an A major chord when strummed open. It is structurally identical to Open G tuned up one whole step, delivering a brighter, more tense sound that works particularly well for slide guitar centered on the key of A.
Jimmy Page used Open A with a slide on Led Zeppelin's 'In My Time of Dying' from Physical Graffiti (1975). Rory Gallagher also employed Open A for his raw, energetic slide work. Many players achieve Open A by simply placing a capo at the 2nd fret in Open G tuning, which is why dedicated Open A usage is less commonly discussed. However, without a capo, Open A gives direct access to the open A string resonance and a different feel under the fingers due to the higher tension.
Notable artists: Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Delta blues players
Best for: Slide guitar in the key of A, blues playing, and situations where you need the brightness of Open G tuned up without a capo
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.
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- vi – viM7 – vi7 – II (Descending Minor Cliché)Classical / Pop — Romance & Intrigue
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 Open D
- G Melodic Minor in Half Step Down
- G Melodic Minor in Open E
- G Melodic Minor in Double Drop D
- G Melodic Minor in Open C