Interactive piano keyboard showing C# Melodic Minor scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
C♯ melodic minor (C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯) combines a minor 3rd with a major 6th and major 7th, creating the "jazz minor" scale used in advanced improvisation. It is the parent scale of the C♯ altered scale and other important jazz modes. C♯ melodic minor is primarily used in jazz and fusion contexts.
Raising both the 6th and 7th of natural minor creates a hybrid scale — minor in quality (flat 3rd) but with major-scale brightness above the 5th. This duality makes it a jazz essential, generating the altered and lydian dominant modes used over ii–V–I progressions.
The diatonic chords in C# Melodic Minor are: C#m, D#m, Eaug, F#, G#, A#dim, Cdim. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Melodic Minor?
C♯ melodic minor (C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯) combines a minor 3rd with a major 6th and major 7th, creating the "jazz minor" scale used in advanced improvisation. It is the parent scale of the C♯ altered scale and other important jazz modes. C♯ melodic minor is primarily used in jazz and fusion contexts.
What notes are in the C# Melodic Minor?
The C# Melodic Minor contains the notes: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B#. This is a 7-note scale starting from C#.
How many chords does the C# Melodic Minor have?
The C# Melodic Minor produces 7 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: C#m, D#m, Eaug, F#, G#, A#dim, Cdim.
What is the formula for the Melodic Minor?
The Melodic Minor follows the interval formula: W-H-W-W-W-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
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Position in circle of fifths
C# is at the 7 o'clock position. Related keys: Ab (dominant), F# (subdominant), Bb (relative minor), Eb (supertonic), B (subtonic).