B Melodic Minor
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Melodic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Melodic Minor scale, often called the Jazz Minor, offers a more sophisticated and fluid sound than the natural minor. On Ukulele, it contains the notes B, C#, D, E, 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 B Melodic Minor are Bm6, C#m7, D+maj7, E7, F#7, G#m7b5, A#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: B, C#, D, E, 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
Diatonic Chords
Bm6 — C#m7 — D+maj7 — E7 — F#7 — G#m7b5 — A#m7b5
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 B 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.
Related Scales
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- vi – viM7 – vi7 – II (Descending Minor Cliché)Classical / Pop — Romance & Intrigue
The B Melodic Minor scale contains 7 notes (B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.