E Melodic Minor (Classical) Banjo Scale, Chords & Progressions
The E Melodic Minor (Classical) scale on banjo: scale shapes, chords and progressions, with tab you can play along to in the interactive lesson.
Notes going up: E F# G A B C# D#
Notes coming down: E D C B A G F#
Tuning: Standard (G D G B D)
Scales
Scale shapes
3NPS - Seventh Position
D|--4---5---7-| B|--2---4---5-| G|--0---2---4-| D|--1---2---4-| G|--0---7-----|
Coming down
D|--4---5---7-| B|--1---3---5-| G|--0---2---4-| D|--2---4-----| G|------------|
3NPS - First Position
D|--5---7---9-| B|--4---5---7-| G|--2---4---6-| D|--2---4---5-| G|--7---9-----|
Coming down
D|--5---7---9-| B|--3---5---7-| G|--2---4---5-| D|--2---4---5-| G|------------|
3NPS - Second Position
D|--7---9--11-| B|--5---7---8-| G|--4---6---8-| D|--4---5---7-| G|--7---9--11-|
Coming down
D|--7---9--10-| B|--5---7---8-| G|--4---5---7-| D|--4---5---7-| G|------------|
Exercises
Basic Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Em | E G B | 0 2 0 0 2 |
| I | Em | E G B | 0 2 4 0 2 |
| I | Em | E G B | 0 2 4 0 5 |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x x 2 2 x |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x 4 2 2 4 |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x 4 2 2 x |
| II | F#m | F# A C# | x x 2 2 4 |
| III | Gaug | G B D# | x x 0 0 1 |
| III | Gaug | G B D# | x x x 0 1 |
| III | Gaug | G B D# | 0 1 0 0 1 |
| III | Gaug | G B D# | 0 1 0 0 x |
| IV | A | A C# E | x x 2 2 2 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x x x 2 2 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x 2 2 2 2 |
| IV | A | A C# E | x 2 2 2 x |
| V | B | B D# F# | x x x 0 4 |
| V | B | B D# F# | x 1 4 0 4 |
| V | B | B D# F# | x 4 4 0 1 |
| V | B | B D# F# | x 1 4 4 4 |
| VI | C#dim | C# E G | 0 2 0 2 2 |
| VI | C#dim | C# E G | 0 2 0 2 x |
| VI | C#dim | C# E G | x 2 0 2 2 |
| VI | C#dim | C# E G | x 2 0 2 x |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 1 2 x x |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 1 2 4 4 |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 4 2 4 1 |
| VII | D#dim | D# F# A | x 4 2 4 4 |
Seventh Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Em(maj7) | E G B D# | x x 0 0 1 |
| I | Em(maj7) | E G B D# | 0 1 0 0 1 |
| I | Em(maj7) | E G B D# | 0 1 0 0 x |
| I | Em(maj7) | E G B D# | x 1 0 0 1 |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x x 2 2 2 |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 2 |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 x |
| II | F#m7 | F# A C# E | x 4 2 2 2 |
| III | Gmaj7#5 | G B D# F# | x x 0 0 4 |
| III | Gmaj7#5 | G B D# F# | x x 0 4 4 |
| III | Gmaj7#5 | G B D# F# | 0 1 0 0 4 |
| III | Gmaj7#5 | G B D# F# | 0 1 0 4 4 |
| IV | A7 | A C# E G | 0 2 0 2 2 |
| IV | A7 | A C# E G | 0 2 2 2 2 |
| IV | A7 | A C# E G | 0 2 0 2 x |
| IV | A7 | A C# E G | 0 2 2 2 x |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 1 |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 x |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x x 2 0 1 |
| V | B7 | B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 4 |
| VI | C#m7b5 | C# E G B | 0 2 0 0 2 |
| VI | C#m7b5 | C# E G B | 0 2 0 0 x |
| VI | C#m7b5 | C# E G B | x 2 0 0 2 |
| VI | C#m7b5 | C# E G B | x 2 0 0 x |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 x |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x x 2 2 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5 | D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 4 |
Ninth Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Em(maj9) | E G B D# F# | 0 2 0 4 4 |
| I | Em(maj9) | E G B D# F# | 0 2 4 4 4 |
| I | Em(maj9) | E G B D# F# | x 2 0 4 4 |
| I | Em(maj9) | E G B D# F# | x x 0 0 4 |
| II | F#m7b9 | F# A C# E G | 0 2 2 2 2 |
| II | F#m7b9 | F# A C# E G | 0 2 2 2 x |
| II | F#m7b9 | F# A C# E G | 0 2 2 x x |
| II | F#m7b9 | F# A C# E G | x 2 0 2 x |
| III | Gmaj9#5 | G B D# F# A | 0 1 2 x x |
| III | Gmaj9#5 | G B D# F# A | x 1 2 0 x |
| III | Gmaj9#5 | G B D# F# A | x x 2 0 1 |
| III | Gmaj9#5 | G B D# F# A | 0 1 2 0 4 |
| IV | A9 | A C# E G B | x x 2 0 2 |
| IV | A9 | A C# E G B | 0 2 2 0 2 |
| IV | A9 | A C# E G B | 0 2 2 0 x |
| IV | A9 | A C# E G B | x 2 0 0 x |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 x |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x x 2 2 1 |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x x 4 2 1 |
| V | B9 | B D# F# A C# | x 1 2 2 4 |
| VI | C#m9b5 | C# E G B D# | x x 0 0 1 |
| VI | C#m9b5 | C# E G B D# | x 1 0 0 x |
| VI | C#m9b5 | C# E G B D# | 0 2 0 0 1 |
| VI | C#m9b5 | C# E G B D# | x 2 0 0 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x 1 2 2 2 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 1 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x x 2 2 2 |
| VII | D#m7b5b9 | D# F# A C# E | x 2 2 2 x |
Progressions
Forward Roll
Chords: Em – F#m – Gaug – A – B – C#dim – D#dim
D|2---2-----------2-----------2---|--------------------------------| B|0-----------0-----------0-------|2-----------2-----------2-------| G|0-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| D|2-------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|0-------0-----------0-----------|--------0-----------0-----------| D|1---1-----------1-----------1---|2---2-----------2-----------2---| B|0-----------0-----------0-------|2-----------2-----------2-------| G|0-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|--------0-----------0-----------|--------0-----------0-----------| D|4---4-----------4-----------4---|2---2-----------2-----------2---| B|0-----------0-----------0-------|2-----------2-----------2-------| G|--------------------------------|0-------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|2-------------------------------| G|--------0-----------0-----------|0-------0-----------0-----------| D|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|2-------------------------------| D|1-------------------------------| G|--------0-----------0-----------|
Backward Roll
Chords: Em – F#m – Gaug – A – B – C#dim – D#dim
D|2-----------2-----------2-------|--------------------------------| B|0---0-----------0-----------0---|2---2-----------2-----------2---| G|0-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| D|2-------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|0-------0-----------0-----------|--------0-----------0-----------| D|1-----------1-----------1-------|2-----------2-----------2-------| B|0---0-----------0-----------0---|2---2-----------2-----------2---| G|0-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|--------0-----------0-----------|--------0-----------0-----------| D|4-----------4-----------4-------|2-----------2-----------2-------| B|0---0-----------0-----------0---|2---2-----------2-----------2---| G|--------------------------------|0-------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|2-------------------------------| G|--------0-----------0-----------|0-------0-----------0-----------| D|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|2-------------------------------| D|1-------------------------------| G|--------0-----------0-----------|
Forward-Reverse Roll
Chords: Em – F#m – Gaug – A – B – C#dim – D#dim
D|2-------2-------2-----------2---|--------------------------------| B|0---0---------------0-----------|2---2---------------2-----------| G|0-----------------------0-------|2-----------------------2-------| D|2-------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|0-----------0-------------------|------------0-------------------| D|1-------1-------1-----------1---|2-------2-------2-----------2---| B|0---0---------------0-----------|2---2---------------2-----------| G|0-----------------------0-------|2-----------------------2-------| D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|------------0-------------------|------------0-------------------| D|4-------4-------4-----------4---|2-------2-------2-----------2---| B|0---0---------------0-----------|2---2---------------2-----------| G|--------------------------------|0-----------------------0-------| D|--------------------------------|2-------------------------------| G|------------0-------------------|0-----------0-------------------| D|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|2-----------------------2-------| D|1-------------------------------| G|------------0-------------------|
Alternating Thumb Roll
Chords: Em – F#m – Gaug – A – B – C#dim – D#dim
D|2-----------2---------------2---|--------------------------------| B|0---0---------------0-----------|2---2---------------2-----------| G|0-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| D|2---------------2---------------|--------------------------------| G|0-------0---------------0-------|--------0---------------0-------| D|1-----------1---------------1---|2-----------2---------------2---| B|0---0---------------0-----------|2---2---------------2-----------| G|0-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|--------------------------------| G|--------0---------------0-------|--------0---------------0-------| D|4-----------4---------------4---|2-----------2---------------2---| B|0---0---------------0-----------|2---2---------------2-----------| G|--------------------------------|0-------------------------------| D|--------------------------------|2---------------2---------------| G|--------0---------------0-------|0-------0---------------0-------| D|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|2-------------------------------| D|1---------------1---------------| G|--------0---------------0-------|