C♭ Melodic Minor scale
The C♭ Melodic Minor scale is a 7-note melodic minor scale built on the root C♭. Its notes are C♭, D♭, E𝄫, F♭, G♭, A♭ and B♭. Smooth ascending minor with raised sixth and seventh - central to jazz. This page covers the formula, fingerings, diatonic chords and common progressions that make C♭ Melodic Minor a great tool for improvising and composing.
Melodic minor is huge in jazz improvisation and modern classical writing. The raised sixth and seventh smooth out natural minor and open up tons of modal options. Built on the root C♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
- Notes
- C♭ · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭ · G♭ · A♭ · B♭
- Formula
- 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M
- Step pattern
- W H W W W W H
- Tonic
- C♭
C♭ Melodic Minor on the piano
C♭ Melodic Minor on the guitar
C♭ Melodic Minor on the staff
Hear the C♭ Melodic Minor scale
Improvisation drone
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
Notes of the C♭ Melodic Minor scale
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1P | 0 | C♭(Cb) | |
| 2 | 2M | 2 | D♭(Db) | |
| 3 | 3m | 3 | E𝄫(Ebb) | |
| 4 | 4P | 5 | F♭(Fb) | |
| 5 | 5P | 7 | G♭(Gb) | |
| 6 | 6M | 9 | A♭(Ab) | |
| 7 | 7M | 11 | B♭(Bb) |
Diatonic chords of C♭ Melodic Minor
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
How to use the C♭ Melodic Minor scale
The diatonic chords of C♭ Melodic Minor are: i = C♭m, ii = D♭m, III+ = E𝄫+, IV = F♭, V = G♭, vi° = A♭°, vii° = B♭°. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♭ Melodic Minor. Click any chord below to open its full diagram and progressions.
Melodic minor is huge in jazz improvisation and modern classical writing. The raised sixth and seventh smooth out natural minor and open up tons of modal options.
Practice tips
Learn the ascending melodic minor (with raised sixth and seventh) and use it both ways for jazz. Most jazz players use the whole melodic minor scale uniformly in both directions anyway.
Where you will hear C♭ Melodic Minor
C♭ Melodic Minor appears throughout melodic minor is huge in jazz improvisation and modern classical writing. the raised sixth and seventh smooth out natural minor and open up tons of modal options. Listening to music in this scale and transcribing short phrases is the fastest way to absorb its sound.
Formula & step pattern
The C♭ Melodic Minor scale follows the natural minor pattern with raised sixth and seventh degrees on the way up. Step pattern: W - H - W - W - W - W - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6M · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Questions people ask
- What notes are in the C♭ Melodic Minor scale?
- The C♭ Melodic Minor scale contains C♭, D♭, E𝄫, F♭, G♭, A♭ and B♭.
- What is the formula for the C♭ Melodic Minor scale?
- C♭ Melodic Minor follows the natural minor pattern with raised sixth and seventh degrees on the way up.
- Is C♭ Melodic Minor a major or minor scale?
- C♭ Melodic Minor is a melodic minor scale. Smooth ascending minor with raised sixth and seventh - central to jazz.
- What chords belong to the C♭ Melodic Minor scale?
- The diatonic chords of C♭ Melodic Minor are C♭m, D♭m, E𝄫+, F♭, G♭, A♭°, B♭°.
- Which genres use C♭ Melodic Minor?
- Melodic minor is huge in jazz improvisation and modern classical writing. The raised sixth and seventh smooth out natural minor and open up tons of modal options.
- How do I practise the C♭ Melodic Minor scale?
- Learn the ascending melodic minor (with raised sixth and seventh) and use it both ways for jazz. Most jazz players use the whole melodic minor scale uniformly in both directions anyway.