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

The C 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: C D Eb F G A B

Notes coming down: C A# Ab G F Eb D

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

Scales

Scale shapes

CAGED - C Shape

E|--7---8--10-|
B|--8--10-----|
G|--8--10-----|
D|--9--10--12-|
A|-10--12-----|
D|-13--15-----|

Coming down

E|--6---8--10-|
B|--8---9-----|
G|--8--10-----|
D|--8--10--12-|
A|-10--11-----|
D|-13--15-----|

CAGED - A Shape

E|-11--13-----|
B|-12--13--15-|
G|-12--14-----|
D|-13--15-----|
A|-14--15--17-|
D|-17--19-----|

Coming down

E|-11--13-----|
B|-11--13--15-|
G|-12--13-----|
D|-13--15-----|
A|-13--15--17-|
D|-17--18-----|

CAGED - G Shape

E|--3---5-----|
B|--4---6-----|
G|--4---5---7-|
D|--5---7-----|
A|--5---6---8-|
D|--7---9--10-|

Coming down

E|--3---4-----|
B|--4---6-----|
G|--3---5---7-|
D|--5---6-----|
A|--5---6---8-|
D|--8--10-----|

CAGED - E Shape

E|--7---8--10-|
B|--8--10-----|
G|--7---8--10-|
D|--7---9--10-|
A|--8--10-----|
D|-10--12--13-|

Coming down

E|--6---8--10-|
B|--8---9-----|
G|--7---8--10-|
D|--6---8--10-|
A|--8--10-----|
D|-10--12--13-|

CAGED - D Shape

E|--7---8--10-|
B|--8--10-----|
G|--8--10-----|
D|--9--10--12-|
A|-10--12-----|
D|-12--13--15-|

Coming down

E|--6---8--10-|
B|--8---9-----|
G|--8--10-----|
D|--8--10--12-|
A|-10--11-----|
D|-12--13--15-|

3NPS - First Position

E|-10--11--13-|
B|-10--12--13-|
G|--8--10--12-|
D|--9--10--12-|
A|--8--10--12-|
D|-10--12--13-|

Coming down

E|-10--11--13-|
B|--9--11--13-|
G|--8--10--12-|
D|--8--10--12-|
A|--8--10--11-|
D|-10--12--13-|

Exercises

Basic Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x 3 5 5 4 3`
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x 3 5 5 4 x`
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x 3 1 0 1 x`
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x x x 5 4 3`
II	Dm	D F A	`0 0 0 2 3 1`
II	Dm	D F A	`x x 0 2 3 1`
II	Dm	D F A	`0 0 3 2 3 1`
II	Dm	D F A	`x 5 3 2 3 x`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x x 1 0 0 x`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x x 1 4 0 3`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x x 1 4 4 3`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x 6 5 4 4 x`
IV	F	F A C	`x x 3 2 1 1`
IV	F	F A C	`x x 3 2 1 x`
IV	F	F A C	`3 3 3 2 1 1`
IV	F	F A C	`3 3 3 2 1 x`
V	G	G B D	`x x 5 4 3 3`
V	G	G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
V	G	G B D	`5 5 5 4 3 3`
V	G	G B D	`5 5 5 4 3 x`
VI	Adim	A C Eb	`x 0 1 2 1 x`
VI	Adim	A C Eb	`x x 7 5 4 5`
VI	Adim	A C Eb	`x x 1 2 1 x`
VI	Adim	A C Eb	`x 6 7 5 x x`
VII	Bdim	B D F	`x 2 3 4 3 x`
VII	Bdim	B D F	`x x 9 7 6 7`
VII	Bdim	B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
VII	Bdim	B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`

Seventh Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x 3 1 0 0 3`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x 3 1 0 0 x`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x 3 1 4 0 3`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x 3 1 4 0 x`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x 5 7 5 6 5`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x 5 3 5 3 x`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x 5 7 5 6 x`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x 5 3 5 3 5`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x 2 0 0 x x`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x x x 4 3 3`
IV	F7	F A C Eb	`x x 3 2 4 1`
IV	F7	F A C Eb	`x x 3 5 4 5`
IV	F7	F A C Eb	`3 3 3 5 4 5`
IV	F7	F A C Eb	`3 3 3 5 4 x`
V	G7	G B D F	`x x 5 4 6 3`
V	G7	G B D F	`x x 5 7 6 7`
V	G7	G B D F	`5 5 5 7 6 7`
V	G7	G B D F	`5 5 5 7 6 x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x 0 1 0 1 x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x 0 1 0 x x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x x 7 8 8 8`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x x 7 5 8 x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 3 2 3 x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 0 2 0 x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 3 2 0 x`

Ninth Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x 3 0 0 0 x`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x x 10 7 8 7`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x x 10 12 12 10`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
II	Dm7b9	D F A C Eb	`x x 12 10 13 11`
II	Dm7b9	D F A C Eb	`x x 12 14 13 11`
II	Dm7b9	D F A C Eb	`x x 1 2 1 x`
II	Dm7b9	D F A C Eb	`x x 3 5 4 5`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x 6 5 7 6 x`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x x 5 7 6 7`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 8 7 8 8 5`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 8 7 8 8 8`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 0 1 0 1 x`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 0 1 0 x x`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x 10 9 10 10 7`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x 10 9 10 10 10`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 3 2 3 x`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x 0 1 0 0 x`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x 0 1 0 0 3`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x 0 1 2 0 3`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x x x 2 0 3`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x x 9 7 10 8`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x x 3 2 1 x`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x x x 2 1 1`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x 3 3 2 x x`

Triads

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x x x 5 4 3`
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x x 10 8 8 x`
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x x 5 5 4 x`
I	Cm	C Eb G	`x x x 8 8 8`
II	Dm	D F A	`x x x 7 6 5`
II	Dm	D F A	`x x 12 10 10 x`
II	Dm	D F A	`x x 7 7 6 x`
II	Dm	D F A	`x x x 10 10 10`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x x 1 0 0 x`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x 6 5 4 x x`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x x x 8 8 7`
III	Ebaug	Eb G B	`x 2 1 0 x x`
IV	F	F A C	`x x 3 2 1 x`
IV	F	F A C	`x 8 7 5 x x`
IV	F	F A C	`x x x 10 10 8`
IV	F	F A C	`x x x 2 1 1`
V	G	G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
V	G	G B D	`x 10 9 7 x x`
V	G	G B D	`x x x 12 12 10`
V	G	G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
VI	Adim	A C Eb	`x x 1 2 1 x`
VI	Adim	A C Eb	`x 6 7 5 x x`
VII	Bdim	B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
VII	Bdim	B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x 3 1 4 x x`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x 3 5 4 x x`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x x x 5 4 7`
I	Cm(maj7)	C Eb G B	`x x x 5 8 7`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x 5 3 5 x x`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x x 12 10 13 x`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x x 3 2 1 x`
II	Dm7	D F A C	`x x x 2 1 1`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x 2 0 0 x x`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
III	Ebmaj7#5	Eb G B D	`x x x 4 3 3`
IV	F7	F A C Eb	`x x 1 2 1 x`
IV	F7	F A C Eb	`x 6 7 5 x x`
V	G7	G B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
V	G7	G B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x 0 1 0 x x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x x 7 5 8 x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x 12 10 12 x x`
VI	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x x x 5 4 3`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 3 2 x x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x x 9 7 10 x`
VII	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x x x 7 6 5`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x 2 0 0 x x`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
I	Cm(maj9)	C Eb G B D	`x x x 4 3 3`
II	Dm7b9	D F A C Eb	`x x 1 2 1 x`
II	Dm7b9	D F A C Eb	`x 6 7 5 x x`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
III	Ebmaj9#5	Eb G B D F	`x 8 9 8 x x`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 0 1 0 x x`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x x x 5 4 3`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x x 5 5 4 x`
IV	F9	F A C Eb G	`x x 7 5 8 x`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 3 2 x x`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x x x 7 6 5`
V	G9	G B D F A	`x x 7 7 6 x`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x x x 2 0 3`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x 0 1 4 x x`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x x 7 5 0 x`
VI	Am9b5	A C Eb G B	`x x 7 4 4 x`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x x 3 2 1 x`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x x x 2 1 1`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x 3 3 2 x x`
VII	Bm7b5b9	B D F A C	`x 5 3 5 x x`

Progressions

Arpeggios

Chords: Cm – Dm – Ebaug – F – G – Adim – Bdim

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

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

E|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|3-----------8---3-----------8---3-----------8---3-----------8---|1---------------1---------------1---------------1---------------|
G|4---4---7-------4---4---7-------4---4---7-------4---4---7-------|2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---|
D|5---------------5---------------5---------------5---------------|1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|0---3-----------0---3-----------0---3-----------0---3-----------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

Three Note Runs

Chords: Cm – Dm – Ebaug – F – G – Adim – Bdim

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

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

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

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

All guitar lessons · The Guitar Scales