A Melodic Minor (Classical) Guitar Scale, Chords & Progressions (Drop D Tuning)

The A Melodic Minor (Classical) scale on guitar: scale shapes, chords and progressions, with tab you can play along to in the interactive lesson.

Notes going up: A B C D E F# G#

Notes coming down: A G F E D C B

Tuning: Drop D Guitar (D A D G B E)

Scales

Scale shapes

CAGED - C Shape

E|--4---5---7-|
B|--5---7-----|
G|--5---7-----|
D|--6---7---9-|
A|--7---9-----|
D|-10--12-----|

Coming down

E|--3---5---7-|
B|--5---6-----|
G|--5---7-----|
D|--5---7---9-|
A|--7---8-----|
D|-10--12-----|

CAGED - A Shape

E|--8--10-----|
B|--9--10--12-|
G|--9--11-----|
D|-10--12-----|
A|-11--12--14-|
D|-14--16-----|

Coming down

E|--8--10-----|
B|--8--10--12-|
G|--9--10-----|
D|-10--12-----|
A|-10--12--14-|
D|-14--15-----|

CAGED - G Shape

E|--0---2-----|
B|--1---3-----|
G|--1---2---4-|
D|--2---4-----|
A|--2---3---5-|
D|--4---6---7-|

Coming down

E|--0---1-----|
B|--1---3-----|
G|--0---2---4-|
D|--2---3-----|
A|--2---3---5-|
D|--5---7-----|

CAGED - E Shape

E|--4---5---7-|
B|--5---7-----|
G|--4---5---7-|
D|--4---6---7-|
A|--5---7-----|
D|--7---9--10-|

Coming down

E|--3---5---7-|
B|--5---6-----|
G|--4---5---7-|
D|--3---5---7-|
A|--5---7-----|
D|--7---9--10-|

CAGED - D Shape

E|--4---5---7-|
B|--5---7-----|
G|--5---7-----|
D|--6---7---9-|
A|--7---9-----|
D|--9--10--12-|

Coming down

E|--3---5---7-|
B|--5---6-----|
G|--5---7-----|
D|--5---7---9-|
A|--7---8-----|
D|--9--10--12-|

3NPS - First Position

E|--7---8--10-|
B|--7---9--10-|
G|--5---7---9-|
D|--6---7---9-|
A|--5---7---9-|
D|--7---9--10-|

Coming down

E|--7---8--10-|
B|--6---8--10-|
G|--5---7---9-|
D|--5---7---9-|
A|--5---7---8-|
D|--7---9--10-|

Exercises

Basic Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Am	A C E	`x 0 2 2 1 0`
I	Am	A C E	`x 0 2 2 1 x`
I	Am	A C E	`x x x 2 1 0`
I	Am	A C E	`x x 7 5 5 5`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x 2 4 4 3 2`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x 2 4 4 3 x`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x x x 4 3 2`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x x 9 7 7 7`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x 3 2 1 1 x`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x 3 2 1 x x`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x x x 5 5 4`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x x 10 9 9 x`
IV	D	D F# A	`x x 0 2 3 2`
IV	D	D F# A	`x 5 4 2 3 2`
IV	D	D F# A	`0 0 0 2 3 2`
IV	D	D F# A	`x 5 4 2 3 x`
V	E	E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 0`
V	E	E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 x`
V	E	E G# B	`2 2 2 1 0 0`
V	E	E G# B	`2 2 2 1 0 x`
VI	F#dim	F# A C	`x x 4 2 1 2`
VI	F#dim	F# A C	`x 9 10 11 10 x`
VI	F#dim	F# A C	`x 3 4 2 x x`
VI	F#dim	F# A C	`x x 10 11 10 x`
VII	G#dim	G# B D	`x x 6 4 3 4`
VII	G#dim	G# B D	`x 11 12 13 12 x`
VII	G#dim	G# B D	`x x 0 1 0 x`
VII	G#dim	G# B D	`x 5 6 4 x x`

Seventh Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x 0 2 1 1 0`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x 0 2 1 1 x`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x 0 2 1 x x`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x 0 2 1 1 4`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x 2 4 2 3 2`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x 2 0 2 0 x`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x 2 4 2 3 x`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x 2 0 2 0 2`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 x`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x x x 1 0 0`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 0`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x 2 2 1 x x`
IV	D7	D F# A C	`x x 0 2 1 2`
IV	D7	D F# A C	`0 0 0 2 1 2`
IV	D7	D F# A C	`0 0 0 2 1 x`
IV	D7	D F# A C	`x 5 4 5 3 5`
V	E7	E G# B D	`x x 2 1 3 0`
V	E7	E G# B D	`x x 2 4 3 4`
V	E7	E G# B D	`2 2 2 4 3 4`
V	E7	E G# B D	`2 2 2 4 3 x`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x x 4 5 5 5`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x x 4 2 1 0`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`4 0 2 2 5 5`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x x 4 2 5 x`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x x 6 7 7 7`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x x 6 4 7 x`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x 11 12 11 12 x`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x 11 9 11 9 x`

Ninth Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x x 7 4 5 4`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x x 7 9 9 7`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x 12 9 9 9 x`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 x`
II	Bm7b9	B D F# A C	`x x 9 7 10 8`
II	Bm7b9	B D F# A C	`x x 9 11 10 8`
II	Bm7b9	B D F# A C	`x x 0 2 1 2`
II	Bm7b9	B D F# A C	`x 3 4 2 x x`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x 3 2 4 3 x`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x x 0 1 0 x`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x x 2 4 3 4`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x 5 6 4 x x`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x 5 4 5 5 2`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x 5 4 5 5 5`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x x x 2 1 0`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x x 2 2 1 x`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x 7 6 7 7 4`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x 7 6 7 7 7`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x x x 4 3 2`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x x 4 4 3 x`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 0 2 1 1 0`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 0 2 1 1 2`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 0 2 1 1 4`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 0 2 2 1 4`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x x 6 4 7 5`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x 2 4 2 3 2`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x 2 4 2 3 x`

Triads

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Am	A C E	`x x x 2 1 0`
I	Am	A C E	`x x 7 5 5 x`
I	Am	A C E	`x x 2 2 1 x`
I	Am	A C E	`x x x 5 5 5`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x x x 4 3 2`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x x 9 7 7 x`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x x 4 4 3 x`
II	Bm	B D F#	`x x x 7 7 7`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x 3 2 1 x x`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x x x 5 5 4`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x x 10 9 9 x`
III	Caug	C E G#	`x x 2 1 1 x`
IV	D	D F# A	`x 5 4 2 x x`
IV	D	D F# A	`x x x 7 7 5`
IV	D	D F# A	`x x 12 11 10 x`
IV	D	D F# A	`x x 4 2 3 x`
V	E	E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 x`
V	E	E G# B	`x 7 6 4 x x`
V	E	E G# B	`x x x 9 9 7`
V	E	E G# B	`x x x 1 0 0`
VI	F#dim	F# A C	`x 3 4 2 x x`
VI	F#dim	F# A C	`x x 10 11 10 x`
VII	G#dim	G# B D	`x x 0 1 0 x`
VII	G#dim	G# B D	`x 5 6 4 x x`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x 0 2 1 x x`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x x x 2 1 4`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`x x x 2 5 4`
I	Am(maj7)	A C E G#	`7 7 6 x x x`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x x 9 7 10 x`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x 5 4 2 x x`
II	Bm7	B D F# A	`x x 4 2 3 x`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 x`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x x x 1 0 0`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x 2 2 1 x x`
III	Cmaj7#5	C E G# B	`x 7 6 4 x x`
IV	D7	D F# A C	`x 3 4 2 x x`
IV	D7	D F# A C	`x x 10 11 10 x`
V	E7	E G# B D	`x x 0 1 0 x`
V	E7	E G# B D	`x 5 6 4 x x`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x x 4 2 5 x`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x 9 7 9 x x`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x 9 10 9 x x`
VI	F#m7b5	F# A C E	`x x x 2 1 0`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x x 6 4 7 x`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x 11 9 11 x x`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x 11 12 11 x x`
VII	G#m7b5	G# B D F#	`x x x 4 3 2`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x x 2 1 0 x`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x x x 1 0 0`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x 2 2 1 x x`
I	Am(maj9)	A C E G# B	`x 7 6 4 x x`
II	Bm7b9	B D F# A C	`x 3 4 2 x x`
II	Bm7b9	B D F# A C	`x x 10 11 10 x`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x x 0 1 0 x`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x 5 6 4 x x`
III	Cmaj9#5	C E G# B D	`x 5 6 5 x x`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x x x 2 1 0`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x x 2 2 1 x`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x x 4 2 5 x`
IV	D9	D F# A C E	`x x x 5 5 5`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x x x 4 3 2`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x x 4 4 3 x`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x x 6 4 7 x`
V	E9	E G# B D F#	`x x x 7 7 7`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`x x 4 1 1 x`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 0 6 x x x`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 3 6 x x x`
VI	F#m9b5	F# A C E G#	`4 7 6 x x x`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x x 4 2 3 x`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x 5 4 2 x x`
VII	G#m7b5b9	G# B D F# A	`x x x 7 7 5`

Progressions

Arpeggios

Chords: Am – Bm – Caug – D – E – F#dim – G#dim

E|0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|2---------------2---------------2---------------2---------------|
B|1---------------1---------------1---------------1---------------|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|
G|2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---|4-----------4---4-----------4---4-----------4---4-----------4---|
D|2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------|4-------4-------4-------4-------4-------4-------4-------4-------|
A|0---3-----------0---3-----------0---3-----------0---3-----------|2---5-----------2---5-----------2---5-----------2---5-----------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------|2---------------2---------------2---------------2---------------|
B|1-----------1---1-----------1---1-----------1---1-----------1---|3-----------3---3-----------3---3-----------3---3-----------3---|
G|1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------|2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------|
D|2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------|0---4-----------0---4-----------0---4-----------0---4-----------|
A|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---|
B|0-----------5---0-----------5---0-----------5---0-----------5---|1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------|
G|1---1---4-------1---1---4-------1---1---4-------1---1---4-------|2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------|
D|2---------------2---------------2---------------2---------------|4---------------4---------------4---------------4---------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|4---------------4---------------4---------------4---------------|
B|3-----------9---3-----------9---3-----------9---3-----------9---|
G|4---4---7-------4---4---7-------4---4---7-------4---4---7-------|
D|6---------------6---------------6---------------6---------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|

Three Note Runs

Chords: Am – Bm – Caug – D – E – F#dim – G#dim

E|0---------------------------------------------------------------|2---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|1---------------------------------------------------------------|3---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|2-------------------------------------------------------1-------|4-------------------------------------------------------2-------|
D|2-------------------0-------0---2---0---2---4---2---4-------4---|4-------------------2-------2---4---2---4---6---4---6-------6---|
A|0---2---3---2---3-------3---------------------------------------|2---3---5---3---5-------5---------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------|2---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|1---------------------------------------------------------------|3-------------------------------------------------------1-------|
G|1-------------------------------1-------1---2---1---2---4---2---|2-------------------1-------1---2---1---2---4---2---4-------4---|
D|2---0---2---0---2---4---2---4-------4---------------------------|0---2---4---2---4-------4---------------------------------------|
A|3---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|0---------------------------------------------------------------|2---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|0-------------------------------------------1-------1---3---1---|1-------------------------------1-------1---3---1---3---5---3---|
G|1-------1-------1---2---1---2---4---2---4-------4---------------|2---1---2---1---2---4---2---4-------4---------------------------|
D|2---4-------4---------------------------------------------------|4---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

E|4---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|3-------------------------------------------5-------5---7---5---|
G|4-------4-------4---5---4---5---7---5---7-------7---------------|
D|6---7-------7---------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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