Interactive piano keyboard showing D Melodic Minor scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
D melodic minor (D, E, F, G, A, B, C♯) combines a minor 3rd (F) with a major 6th (B) and major 7th (C♯), creating the "jazz minor" scale. It is a crucial scale in modern jazz, serving as the parent of the D altered and D lydian dominant modes. Bill Evans and John Coltrane explored D melodic minor in their improvisations.
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 D Melodic Minor are: Dm, Em, Faug, G, A, Bdim, C#dim. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Melodic Minor?
D melodic minor (D, E, F, G, A, B, C♯) combines a minor 3rd (F) with a major 6th (B) and major 7th (C♯), creating the "jazz minor" scale. It is a crucial scale in modern jazz, serving as the parent of the D altered and D lydian dominant modes. Bill Evans and John Coltrane explored D melodic minor in their improvisations.
What notes are in the D Melodic Minor?
The D Melodic Minor contains the notes: D, E, F, G, A, B, C#. This is a 7-note scale starting from D.
How many chords does the D Melodic Minor have?
The D Melodic Minor produces 7 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Dm, Em, Faug, G, A, Bdim, C#dim.
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
D is at the 2 o'clock position. Related keys: A (dominant), G (subdominant), B (relative minor), E (supertonic), C (subtonic).