F melodic minor scale

2 flats: A♭ B♭ · pattern W–H–W–W–W–W–H

F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E

FGCDEFA♭B♭
Step patternWHWWWWH

Chords in F melodic minor

iFm
iiGm
III+A♭aug
IVB♭
VC
vi°Ddim
vii°Edim

Scale degrees

DegreeNoteNameHalf steps from F
1FTonic0
2GSupertonic2
3A♭Mediant3
4B♭Subdominant5
5CDominant7
6DSubmediant9
7ELeading tone11

About this scale

Melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th (D and E) to smooth out the leap in harmonic minor. Classical players use it ascending and return to natural minor descending; in jazz it’s used both ways and is the source of many modern chord colours.

Seventh chords in F melodic minor scale

i(maj7) Fm(maj7)ii7 Gm7III+7 A♭maj7♯5IV7 B♭7V7 C7viø7 Dm7♭5viiø7 Em7♭5

Other F scales

Melodic minor scale in other keys

Questions

What are the notes of the F melodic minor scale?

F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E, and back to F.

How many sharps or flats are in F melodic minor scale?

2: A♭, B♭.

What is the step pattern of the melodic minor scale?

W–H–W–W–W–W–H, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on F to get this scale.