A♭ Melodic Minor Scale (Ab)
The Ab melodic minor scale goes up as Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab. Coming down it is Ab natural minor: Ab – Gb – Fb – Eb – Db – Cb – Bb – Ab. The 6th and 7th are raised going up (Fb to F, Gb to G) and restored coming down, all written as accidentals in the key signature of Ab minor (7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb). It uses the same piano keys as G# melodic minor, spelled G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E# – F##.
| Up | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | G | Ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Down | Ab | Gb | Fb | Eb | Db | Cb | Bb | Ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave, read left to right as you play it; 1 is the thumb. Coming down the notes are the natural minor's, so the fingers are too.
Ab melodic minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to Cb and F. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Db and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Ab. Coming down, the right thumb plays Cb and Fb and the left thumb plays Cb and Fb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Going up vs coming down
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | G |
| Down | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb |
The first five notes never change. Going up, F and G lead smoothly to Ab and avoid the three-semitone gap of Ab harmonic minor. Coming down there is no leading note to serve, so the scale falls back to Gb and Fb, the notes of Ab natural minor.
What Ab melodic minor is used for
In classical music it shapes melodies: a line rising to Ab takes F and G, and a line falling from it takes Gb and Fb. In jazz the ascending notes are played in both directions, and it is often called the jazz minor scale, used over tonic minor chords such as Abm and Abm6.
Chords that change from natural minor
| Degree | Natural minor | Melodic Minor |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Bbdim (ii°) | Bbm (ii) |
| 3 | Cb (III) | Cbaug (III+) |
| 4 | Dbm (iv) | Db (IV) |
| 5 | Ebm (v) | Eb (V) |
| 6 | Fb (VI) | Fdim (vi°) |
| 7 | Gb (VII) | Gdim (vii°) |
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Ab | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | root | 0 |
| Bb | 2 | major 2nd | 2 |
| Cb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| Db | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| Eb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| F | 6 | major 6th | 9 |
| G | 7 | major 7th | 11 |
Step pattern
Going up, the melodic minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
Ab minor has 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb, and melodic minor uses the same key signature. Going up, F and G are written as accidentals; coming down they are cancelled. See the key of Ab minor for its chords.
Chords in Ab melodic minor, going up
These triads are stacked from the ascending notes, which is how jazz harmony uses the scale. Coming down, the chords are those of Ab minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Abm | Ab Cb Eb |
| 2 | ii | Bbm | Bb Db F |
| 3 | III+ | Cbaug | Cb Eb G |
| 4 | IV | Db | Db F Ab |
| 5 | V | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 6 | vi° | Fdim | F Ab Cb |
| 7 | vii° | Gdim | G Bb Db |
More scales on Ab
Melodic Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Ab melodic minor scale?
The Ab melodic minor scale contains Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, G, then returns to Ab an octave higher. That is the ascending form; coming down it plays Ab, Gb, Fb, Eb, Db, Cb, Bb, Ab.
Is Ab melodic minor the same going up and coming down?
No. Going up it plays Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, G. Coming down it plays the natural minor: Ab, Gb, Fb, Eb, Db, Cb, Bb, Ab. Only the 6th and 7th differ. Jazz players often use the ascending notes both ways.
What key signature does Ab melodic minor use?
The key signature of Ab minor: 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb. The raised 6th and 7th are written as accidentals.
What is the fingering for the Ab melodic minor scale on piano?
Going up, the right hand plays 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, the notes change, so the fingers come from the natural minor: from the top note the right hand plays 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 and the left hand plays 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3.
What is the step pattern of the melodic minor scale?
It follows the pattern W – H – W – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.