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

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

Notes: D E F G A B C#

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

Scales

Scale shapes

CAGED - C Shape

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

CAGED - A Shape

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

CAGED - G Shape

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

CAGED - E Shape

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

CAGED - D Shape

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

3NPS - First Position

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

Basic Chords

Chords

DegreeChordNotesFingering (low to high)
IDmD F A0 0 0 2 3 1
IDmD F Ax x 0 2 3 1
IDmD F A0 0 3 2 3 1
IDmD F Ax 5 3 2 3 x
IIEmE G Bx x 2 0 0 0
IIEmE G Bx x 2 0 0 3
IIEmE G B2 2 2 0 0 0
IIEmE G Bx x 2 0 0 x
IIIFaugF A C#x x 3 2 2 x
IIIFaugF A C#x x 3 6 6 5
IIIFaugF A C#x 8 7 6 6 x
IIIFaugF A C#x 8 7 6 x x
IVGG B Dx x 5 4 3 3
IVGG B Dx x 5 4 3 x
IVGG B D5 5 5 4 3 3
IVGG B D5 5 5 4 3 x
VAA C# Ex 0 2 2 2 0
VAA C# Ex 0 2 2 2 x
VAA C# Ex x x 2 2 0
VAA C# Ex x 7 6 5 5
VIBdimB D Fx 2 3 4 3 x
VIBdimB D Fx x 9 7 6 7
VIBdimB D Fx x 3 4 3 x
VIBdimB D Fx 8 9 7 x x
VIIC#dimC# E Gx 4 5 6 5 x
VIIC#dimC# E Gx x 11 9 8 9
VIIC#dimC# E Gx x 5 6 5 x
VIIC#dimC# E Gx 10 11 9 x x

Seventh Chords

Chords

DegreeChordNotesFingering (low to high)
IDm(maj7)D F A C#0 0 0 2 2 1
IDm(maj7)D F A C#0 0 0 2 2 x
IDm(maj7)D F A C#x x 0 2 2 1
IDm(maj7)D F A C#x x 0 2 2 x
IIEm7E G B D2 2 0 0 0 0
IIEm7E G B D2 2 0 0 0 x
IIEm7E G B Dx x 2 0 3 0
IIEm7E G B Dx x 2 0 3 x
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex 0 2 2 2 0
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex 0 2 2 2 x
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex x x 2 2 0
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex x 2 2 2 x
IVG7G B D Fx x 5 4 6 3
IVG7G B D Fx x 5 7 6 7
IVG7G B D F5 5 5 7 6 7
IVG7G B D F5 5 5 7 6 x
VA7A C# E Gx 0 2 2 2 3
VA7A C# E Gx 0 2 0 2 0
VA7A C# E Gx 0 2 0 2 x
VA7A C# E Gx x 7 6 8 5
VIBm7b5B D F Ax 2 3 2 3 x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax 2 0 2 0 x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax 2 0 2 x x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax 2 3 2 0 x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx 4 5 4 5 x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx 4 2 4 2 x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx 4 2 4 x x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx 4 5 4 2 x

Ninth Chords

Chords

DegreeChordNotesFingering (low to high)
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex x 0 2 2 0
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex 5 2 2 2 x
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex x 12 9 10 9
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex x x 2 2 0
IIEm7b9E G B D Fx x 2 0 3 1
IIEm7b9E G B D Fx x 2 4 3 1
IIEm7b9E G B D Fx x 3 4 3 x
IIEm7b9E G B D Fx x 5 7 6 7
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx 8 7 9 8 x
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx 0 2 2 2 3
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx 0 2 0 2 0
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx 0 2 0 2 x
IVG9G B D F Ax 10 9 10 10 7
IVG9G B D F Ax 10 9 10 10 10
IVG9G B D F Ax 2 3 2 3 x
IVG9G B D F Ax 2 0 2 x x
VA9A C# E G Bx 12 11 12 12 9
VA9A C# E G Bx 12 11 12 12 12
VA9A C# E G Bx x x 0 0 0
VA9A C# E G Bx x 2 0 0 x
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x 2 0 2 2 1
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x 2 0 2 2 x
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x 2 3 2 2 1
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x 2 3 2 2 x
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx x 11 9 12 10
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx x 0 0 0 0
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx x 0 0 0 x
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx 2 0 0 x x

Triads

Chords

DegreeChordNotesFingering (low to high)
IDmD F Ax x x 7 6 5
IDmD F Ax x 12 10 10 x
IDmD F Ax x 7 7 6 x
IDmD F Ax x x 10 10 10
IIEmE G Bx x 2 0 0 x
IIEmE G Bx x x 9 8 7
IIEmE G Bx x x 0 0 0
IIEmE G Bx 2 2 0 x x
IIIFaugF A C#x x 3 2 2 x
IIIFaugF A C#x 8 7 6 x x
IIIFaugF A C#x x x 10 10 9
IIIFaugF A C#x x x 2 2 1
IVGG B Dx x 5 4 3 x
IVGG B Dx 10 9 7 x x
IVGG B Dx x x 12 12 10
IVGG B Dx x 0 0 0 x
VAA C# Ex x x 2 2 0
VAA C# Ex x 7 6 5 x
VAA C# Ex 12 11 9 x x
VAA C# Ex x 2 2 2 x
VIBdimB D Fx x 3 4 3 x
VIBdimB D Fx 8 9 7 x x
VIIC#dimC# E Gx x 5 6 5 x
VIIC#dimC# E Gx 10 11 9 x x
IDm(maj7)D F A C#x x 0 2 2 x
IDm(maj7)D F A C#x 5 3 6 x x
IDm(maj7)D F A C#x 5 7 6 x x
IDm(maj7)D F A C#x 8 0 6 x x
IIEm7E G B Dx x 2 0 3 x
IIEm7E G B Dx 7 5 7 x x
IIEm7E G B Dx x 0 0 0 x
IIEm7E G B Dx 2 0 0 x x
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex x x 2 2 0
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex x 2 2 2 x
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex 4 2 2 x x
IIIFmaj7#5F A C# Ex x 7 6 5 x
IVG7G B D Fx x 3 4 3 x
IVG7G B D Fx 8 9 7 x x
VA7A C# E Gx x 5 6 5 x
VA7A C# E Gx 10 11 9 x x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax 2 0 2 x x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax 2 3 2 x x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax x 9 7 10 x
VIBm7b5B D F Ax x x 7 6 5
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx 4 2 4 x x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx 4 5 4 x x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx x 11 9 12 x
VIIC#m7b5C# E G Bx x x 0 0 0
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex x x 2 2 0
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex x 2 2 2 x
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex 4 2 2 x x
IDm(maj9)D F A C# Ex x 7 6 5 x
IIEm7b9E G B D Fx x 3 4 3 x
IIEm7b9E G B D Fx 8 9 7 x x
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx x 5 6 5 x
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx 10 11 9 x x
IIIFmaj9#5F A C# E Gx 10 11 10 x x
IVG9G B D F Ax 2 0 2 x x
IVG9G B D F Ax 2 3 2 x x
IVG9G B D F Ax x x 7 6 5
IVG9G B D F Ax x 7 7 6 x
VA9A C# E G Bx x x 0 0 0
VA9A C# E G Bx x 2 0 0 x
VA9A C# E G Bx 2 2 0 x x
VA9A C# E G Bx 4 2 4 x x
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x x x 4 2 1
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x x x 4 2 5
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x x x 6 0 5
VIBm9b5B D F A C#x x x 7 0 9
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx x 0 0 0 x
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx 2 0 0 x x
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx x 5 4 3 x
VIIC#m7b5b9C# E G B Dx 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|----------------------------------------------------------------|

All guitar lessons · The Guitar Scales