Piano Melodic Minor Scales

There are 12 piano melodic minor scales. In melodic minor scales, the 6th and 7th notes of the natural minor scale are raised a half a step (semitone) when played in ascending order. However, when played in descending order, the notes of the melodic minor scale are the same as the natural minor scale.

Below is the A melodic minor scale. Notice the raised 6th and 7th notes when the scale is played ascending (notes F sharp and G sharp). In addition, notice that descending, the G and F are no longer raised.

Ascending: A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A
Descending: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

A melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

Below are the remaining piano melodic minor scales written for both hands.

E Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E
Descending: E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D – E

E melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

B Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B
Descending: B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G – A – B

B melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

F Sharp Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯
Descending: F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯

F sharp melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

C Sharp Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B♯ – C♯
Descending: C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯

C sharp melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

D Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: D – E – F – G – A – B – C♯ – D
Descending: D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C – D

D melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

G Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F♯ – G
Descending: G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F – G

G melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

C Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B – C
Descending: C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C

C melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

F Melodic Minor Scale:

Ascending: F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E – F
Descending: F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F

F melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

B Flat Melodic Minor Scale / A Sharp Melodic Minor Scale:

This scale can be notated with sharps or flats as it is an enharmonic scale. The notes are as follows:

Ascending: B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭ / A♯ – B♯ – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯♯ – G♯♯ – A♯
Descending: B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ / A♯ – B♯ – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯

B flat melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

E Flat Melodic Minor Scale / D Sharp Melodic Minor Scale:

This scale is also an enharmonic scale as it can be notated with sharps or flats. The notes are as follows:

Ascending: E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭ / D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B♯ – C♯♯ – D♯
Descending: E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ / D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯

E flat melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

A Flat Melodic Minor Scale / G sharp Melodic Minor Scale:

A flat melodic minor has the same pitches as G sharp melodic minor scale but has different note names. These are called enharmonic scales. The note names for this melodic minor scale are:

Ascending: A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭ / G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯♯ – G♯
Descending: A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ / G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯

A flat melodic minor scale written for piano. The image shows 2 octaves ascending and descending with the fingering to be used.

The harmonic minor scale is another minor scale you should become familiar with. Click here to learn all the harmonic minor scales. Learn also all the major scales here.

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