D Melodic Minor and the Open D String
D, E, F, G, A, B and C# are the notes of the D melodic minor scale. Ring the open D string for the root, then notice the B and C#: both are raised, which turns D natural minor into a brighter, more melodic line.
In the box shapes, the root is at the 10th fret of the low E string and the 5th fret of the A string. The chord on the 5th degree is the dominant seventh A7. Read which scale fits which chord to learn how to use it.
Play the D melodic minor scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the D melodic minor scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 |
| E | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| F | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| B | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| C# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
D melodic minor scale notes:
How the melodic minor scale is built:
The melodic minor scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-W-W-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is the parent scale of its own modal family.
It is also known as Jazz Minor.
D Melodic Minor Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the D melodic minor scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the melodic minor scale, starting from a different degree.
The melodic minor scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
