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

The D 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: D E F G A B C#

Notes coming down: D C Bb A G F E

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

Scales

Scale shapes

CAGED - C Shape

E|--9--10--12-|
B|-10--12-----|
G|-10--12-----|
D|-11--12--14-|
A|-12--14-----|
D|-15--17-----|

Coming down

E|--8--10--12-|
B|-10--11-----|
G|-10--12-----|
D|-10--12--14-|
A|-12--13-----|
D|-15--17-----|

CAGED - A Shape

E|--1---3-----|
B|--2---3---5-|
G|--2---4-----|
D|--3---5-----|
A|--4---5---7-|
D|--7---9-----|

Coming down

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

CAGED - G Shape

E|--5---7-----|
B|--6---8-----|
G|--6---7---9-|
D|--7---9-----|
A|--7---8--10-|
D|--9--11--12-|

Coming down

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

CAGED - E Shape

E|--9--10--12-|
B|-10--12-----|
G|--9--10--12-|
D|--9--11--12-|
A|-10--12-----|
D|-12--14--15-|

Coming down

E|--8--10--12-|
B|-10--11-----|
G|--9--10--12-|
D|--8--10--12-|
A|-10--12-----|
D|-12--14--15-|

CAGED - D Shape

E|--9--10--12-|
B|-10--12-----|
G|-10--12-----|
D|-11--12--14-|
A|-12--14-----|
D|-14--15--17-|

Coming down

E|--8--10--12-|
B|-10--11-----|
G|-10--12-----|
D|-10--12--14-|
A|-12--13-----|
D|-14--15--17-|

3NPS - First Position

E|-12--13--15-|
B|-12--14--15-|
G|-10--12--14-|
D|-11--12--14-|
A|-10--12--14-|
D|-12--14--15-|

Coming down

E|-12--13--15-|
B|-11--13--15-|
G|-10--12--14-|
D|-10--12--14-|
A|-10--12--13-|
D|-12--14--15-|

Exercises

Basic Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Dm	D F A	`0 0 0 2 3 1`
I	Dm	D F A	`x x 0 2 3 1`
I	Dm	D F A	`0 0 3 2 3 1`
I	Dm	D F A	`x 5 3 2 3 x`
II	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 0`
II	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 3`
II	Em	E G B	`2 2 2 0 0 0`
II	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x x 3 2 2 x`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x x 3 6 6 5`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x 8 7 6 6 x`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x 8 7 6 x x`
IV	G	G B D	`x x 5 4 3 3`
IV	G	G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
IV	G	G B D	`5 5 5 4 3 3`
IV	G	G B D	`5 5 5 4 3 x`
V	A	A C# E	`x 0 2 2 2 0`
V	A	A C# E	`x 0 2 2 2 x`
V	A	A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
V	A	A C# E	`x x 7 6 5 5`
VI	Bdim	B D F	`x 2 3 4 3 x`
VI	Bdim	B D F	`x x 9 7 6 7`
VI	Bdim	B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
VI	Bdim	B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
VII	C#dim	C# E G	`x 4 5 6 5 x`
VII	C#dim	C# E G	`x x 11 9 8 9`
VII	C#dim	C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
VII	C#dim	C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`

Seventh Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`0 0 0 2 2 1`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`0 0 0 2 2 x`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`x x 0 2 2 1`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`x x 0 2 2 x`
II	Em7	E G B D	`2 2 0 0 0 0`
II	Em7	E G B D	`2 2 0 0 0 x`
II	Em7	E G B D	`x x 2 0 3 0`
II	Em7	E G B D	`x x 2 0 3 x`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x 0 2 2 2 0`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x 0 2 2 2 x`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 x`
IV	G7	G B D F	`x x 5 4 6 3`
IV	G7	G B D F	`x x 5 7 6 7`
IV	G7	G B D F	`5 5 5 7 6 7`
IV	G7	G B D F	`5 5 5 7 6 x`
V	A7	A C# E G	`x 0 2 2 2 3`
V	A7	A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 0`
V	A7	A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 x`
V	A7	A C# E G	`x x 7 6 8 5`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 3 2 3 x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 0 2 0 x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 3 2 0 x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 5 4 5 x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 2 x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 x x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 5 4 2 x`

Ninth Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x x 0 2 2 0`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x 5 2 2 2 x`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x x 12 9 10 9`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
II	Em7b9	E G B D F	`x x 2 0 3 1`
II	Em7b9	E G B D F	`x x 2 4 3 1`
II	Em7b9	E G B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
II	Em7b9	E G B D F	`x x 5 7 6 7`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x 8 7 9 8 x`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x 0 2 2 2 3`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 0`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 x`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x 10 9 10 10 7`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x 10 9 10 10 10`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 3 2 3 x`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x 12 11 12 12 9`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x 12 11 12 12 12`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x 2 0 2 2 1`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x 2 0 2 2 x`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x 2 3 2 2 1`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x 2 3 2 2 x`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x x 11 9 12 10`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x x 0 0 0 0`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x 2 0 0 x x`

Triads

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Dm	D F A	`x x x 7 6 5`
I	Dm	D F A	`x x 12 10 10 x`
I	Dm	D F A	`x x 7 7 6 x`
I	Dm	D F A	`x x x 10 10 10`
II	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
II	Em	E G B	`x x x 9 8 7`
II	Em	E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
II	Em	E G B	`x 2 2 0 x x`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x x 3 2 2 x`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x 8 7 6 x x`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x x x 10 10 9`
III	Faug	F A C#	`x x x 2 2 1`
IV	G	G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
IV	G	G B D	`x 10 9 7 x x`
IV	G	G B D	`x x x 12 12 10`
IV	G	G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
V	A	A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
V	A	A C# E	`x x 7 6 5 x`
V	A	A C# E	`x 12 11 9 x x`
V	A	A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 x`
VI	Bdim	B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
VI	Bdim	B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
VII	C#dim	C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
VII	C#dim	C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`x x 0 2 2 x`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`x 5 3 6 x x`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`x 5 7 6 x x`
I	Dm(maj7)	D F A C#	`x 8 0 6 x x`
II	Em7	E G B D	`x x 2 0 3 x`
II	Em7	E G B D	`x 7 5 7 x x`
II	Em7	E G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
II	Em7	E G B D	`x 2 0 0 x x`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 x`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x 4 2 2 x x`
III	Fmaj7#5	F A C# E	`x x 7 6 5 x`
IV	G7	G B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
IV	G7	G B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
V	A7	A C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
V	A7	A C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x 2 3 2 x x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x x 9 7 10 x`
VI	Bm7b5	B D F A	`x x x 7 6 5`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 x x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 5 4 x x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x x 11 9 12 x`
VII	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 x`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x 4 2 2 x x`
I	Dm(maj9)	D F A C# E	`x x 7 6 5 x`
II	Em7b9	E G B D F	`x x 3 4 3 x`
II	Em7b9	E G B D F	`x 8 9 7 x x`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`
III	Fmaj9#5	F A C# E G	`x 10 11 10 x x`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 0 2 x x`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x 2 3 2 x x`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x x x 7 6 5`
IV	G9	G B D F A	`x x 7 7 6 x`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x 2 2 0 x x`
V	A9	A C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 x x`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x x x 4 2 1`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x x x 4 2 5`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x x x 6 0 5`
VI	Bm9b5	B D F A C#	`x x x 7 0 9`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x x 0 0 0 x`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x 2 0 0 x x`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x x 5 4 3 x`
VII	C#m7b5b9	C# E G B D	`x x 2 0 3 x`

Progressions

Arpeggios

Chords: Dm – Em – Faug – G – A – Bdim – C#dim

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

E|----------------------------------------------------------------|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|
B|2-----------6---2-----------6---2-----------6---2-----------6---|3-----------8---3-----------8---3-----------8---3-----------8---|
G|2---2---6-------2---2---6-------2---2---6-------2---2---6-------|4---4---7-------4---4---7-------4---4---7-------4---4---7-------|
D|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|5---------------5---------------5---------------5---------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

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

Three Note Runs

Chords: Dm – Em – Faug – G – A – Bdim – C#dim

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

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

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

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

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