A# Melodic Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
A# Melodic Minor in Open C — Notes and Intervals
The A# 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 A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, A. 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 A# Melodic Minor are A#m6, Cm7, C#+maj7, D#7, F7, Gm7b5, Am7b5. 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: A#, C, C#, D#, F, G, A
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 C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
Diatonic Chords
A♯m6 — Cm7 — C♯+maj7 — D♯7 — F7 — Gm7♭5 — Am7♭5
About Open C Tuning
Open C tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E) produces a C major chord when strummed open, with an enormous bass depth from the low C string (two whole steps below standard E). The tuning spans a vast tonal range that gives compositions an almost orchestral scope, making it a favorite for both delicate fingerstyle and crushing heavy music.
John Butler's 'Ocean' — one of the most famous modern fingerstyle compositions — is performed in Open C, showcasing the tuning's incredible dynamic range from thundering bass to shimmering harmonics. Devin Townsend uses Open C extensively across his catalog for its massive, wall-of-sound potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Friends' from Led Zeppelin III. Soundgarden also explored Open C. The three C strings and two G strings create powerful octave resonances that make even simple chord shapes sound huge.
Notable artists: John Butler, Devin Townsend, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Soundgarden, William Ackerman
Best for: Cinematic fingerstyle compositions, progressive metal walls of sound, post-rock textures, and any music that needs enormous tonal range from deep bass to bright treble
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
- A# Melodic Minor in Standard Tuning
- A# Melodic Minor in Drop D
- A# Melodic Minor in DADGAD
- A# Melodic Minor in Open G
- A# Melodic Minor in Baritone (B Standard)
- A# Melodic Minor in 7-string
- A# Melodic Minor in 8-string
- A# Melodic Minor in Drop C
- A# Melodic Minor in Drop B
- A# Melodic Minor in Open D
- A# Melodic Minor in Half Step Down
- A# Melodic Minor in Open E
- A# Melodic Minor in Open A
- A# Melodic Minor in Double Drop D