E Melodic Minor (Classical) Guitar Scale, Chords & Progressions

The E 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: E F# G A B C# D#

Notes coming down: E D C B A G F#

Tuning: E Standard (E A D G B E)

Scales

Scale shapes

CAGED - C Shape

e|-11--12--14-|
B|-12--14-----|
G|-12--14-----|
D|-13--14--16-|
A|-14--16-----|
E|-15--17-----|

Coming down

e|-10--12--14-|
B|-12--13-----|
G|-12--14-----|
D|-12--14--16-|
A|-14--15-----|
E|-15--17-----|

CAGED - A Shape

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

Coming down

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

CAGED - G Shape

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

Coming down

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

CAGED - E Shape

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

Coming down

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

CAGED - D Shape

e|-11--12--14-|
B|-12--14-----|
G|-12--14-----|
D|-13--14--16-|
A|-14--16-----|
E|-14--15--17-|

Coming down

e|-10--12--14-|
B|-12--13-----|
G|-12--14-----|
D|-12--14--16-|
A|-14--15-----|
E|-14--15--17-|

3NPS - First Position

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

Coming down

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

Exercises

Basic Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Em	E G B	`0 2 2 0 0 0`
I	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 0`
I	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 3`
I	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`2 4 4 2 2 2`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x x 4 2 2 2`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x x 4 2 2 5`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x x 4 2 2 x`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x x 5 4 4 x`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`3 2 1 0 x x`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x x 5 8 8 7`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x 10 9 8 8 x`
IV	A	A C# E	`x 0 2 2 2 0`
IV	A	A C# E	`x 0 2 2 2 x`
IV	A	A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
IV	A	A C# E	`5 4 2 2 2 5`
V	B	B D# F#	`x 2 4 4 4 2`
V	B	B D# F#	`x 2 4 4 4 x`
V	B	B D# F#	`x x x 4 4 2`
V	B	B D# F#	`7 6 4 4 4 7`
VI	C#dim	C# E G	`x 4 5 6 5 x`
VI	C#dim	C# E G	`x x 11 9 8 9`
VI	C#dim	C# E G	`9 10 11 9 x x`
VI	C#dim	C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
VII	D#dim	D# F# A	`x 6 7 8 7 x`
VII	D#dim	D# F# A	`x x 13 11 10 11`
VII	D#dim	D# F# A	`11 12 13 11 x x`
VII	D#dim	D# F# A	`x x 7 8 7 x`

Seventh Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`0 2 1 0 0 0`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`0 2 1 0 0 x`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`0 2 1 0 x x`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`0 2 1 x x x`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`2 4 2 2 2 2`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`2 0 2 2 2 2`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`2 4 2 2 2 x`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`2 4 4 2 5 x`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`x 2 4 4 4 2`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`2 2 1 x x x`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`x 2 4 4 4 x`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`x x x 4 4 2`
IV	A7	A C# E G	`x 0 2 2 2 3`
IV	A7	A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 0`
IV	A7	A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 x`
IV	A7	A C# E G	`5 4 2 2 2 3`
V	B7	B D# F# A	`x 2 1 2 0 2`
V	B7	B D# F# A	`x 2 4 2 4 2`
V	B7	B D# F# A	`x 2 4 2 4 x`
V	B7	B D# F# A	`x 2 1 2 0 x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 5 4 5 x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 2 x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 x x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 5 4 2 x`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x x 1 2 2 2`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x 6 7 6 7 x`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x 6 4 6 4 x`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x 6 4 6 x x`

Ninth Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`x x 2 4 4 2`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`x 7 4 4 4 x`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`12 14 13 11 x x`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`x x 14 11 12 11`
II	F#m7b9	F# A C# E G	`x x 4 2 5 3`
II	F#m7b9	F# A C# E G	`x x 4 6 5 3`
II	F#m7b9	F# A C# E G	`x 0 2 2 2 3`
II	F#m7b9	F# A C# E G	`x 0 2 0 2 0`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`3 2 4 2 x x`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`x 10 9 11 10 x`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`x 0 1 0 x x`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`x 2 1 2 0 2`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`5 2 5 2 5 x`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x 12 11 12 12 9`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x 12 11 12 12 12`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x 2 1 2 2 2`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`7 4 7 4 7 x`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x 14 13 14 14 11`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x x 1 2 2 2`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x 4 1 0 0 0`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x 4 1 0 0 3`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x 4 1 4 0 0`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x 4 1 4 0 3`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`x x 13 11 14 12`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`2 0 2 2 2 2`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 2`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`2 4 2 2 2 x`

Triads

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Em	E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
I	Em	E G B	`x x x 9 8 7`
I	Em	E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
I	Em	E G B	`x 2 2 0 x x`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x x 4 2 2 x`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x x x 11 10 9`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x x x 2 2 2`
II	F#m	F# A C#	`x 4 4 2 x x`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x x 5 4 4 x`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x 10 9 8 x x`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x x x 12 12 11`
III	Gaug	G B D#	`x x 1 0 0 x`
IV	A	A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
IV	A	A C# E	`x x 7 6 5 x`
IV	A	A C# E	`5 4 2 x x x`
IV	A	A C# E	`x 12 11 9 x x`
V	B	B D# F#	`x x x 4 4 2`
V	B	B D# F#	`x x 9 8 7 x`
V	B	B D# F#	`7 6 4 x x x`
V	B	B D# F#	`x 14 13 11 x x`
VI	C#dim	C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
VI	C#dim	C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`
VII	D#dim	D# F# A	`x x 7 8 7 x`
VII	D#dim	D# F# A	`x 12 13 11 x x`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`0 2 1 x x x`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`x x 2 0 4 x`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`x x 2 4 4 x`
I	Em(maj7)	E G B D#	`x 7 5 8 x x`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`x x 4 2 5 x`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`x 9 7 9 x x`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
II	F#m7	F# A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 x`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`2 2 1 x x x`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`x x x 4 4 2`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`x x 4 4 4 x`
III	Gmaj7#5	G B D# F#	`x 6 4 4 x x`
IV	A7	A C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
IV	A7	A C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`
V	B7	B D# F# A	`x x 7 8 7 x`
V	B7	B D# F# A	`x 12 13 11 x x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 x x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x 4 5 4 x x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x x 11 9 12 x`
VI	C#m7b5	C# E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x 6 4 6 x x`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x 6 7 6 x x`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x x 13 11 14 x`
VII	D#m7b5	D# F# A C#	`x x x 2 2 2`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`2 2 1 x x x`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`x x x 4 4 2`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`x x 4 4 4 x`
I	Em(maj9)	E G B D# F#	`x 6 4 4 x x`
II	F#m7b9	F# A C# E G	`x x 5 6 5 x`
II	F#m7b9	F# A C# E G	`x 10 11 9 x x`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`x 0 1 0 x x`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`x x 7 8 7 x`
III	Gmaj9#5	G B D# F# A	`x 12 13 11 x x`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x x x 0 0 0`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x x 2 0 0 x`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x 2 2 0 x x`
IV	A9	A C# E G B	`x 4 2 4 x x`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x x x 2 2 2`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x x 4 2 2 x`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x 4 4 2 x x`
V	B9	B D# F# A C#	`x 6 4 6 x x`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x 4 1 0 x x`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x 4 1 4 x x`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x x x 6 4 0`
VI	C#m9b5	C# E G B D#	`x x x 6 4 3`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`x x x 2 2 0`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`x x 2 2 2 x`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`x 4 2 2 x x`
VII	D#m7b5b9	D# F# A C# E	`x x 7 6 5 x`

Progressions

Arpeggios

Chords: Em – F#m – Gaug – A – B – C#dim – D#dim

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

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
B|4-----------8---4-----------8---4-----------8---4-----------8---|2---------------2---------------2---------------2---------------|
G|4---4---8-------4---4---8-------4---4---8-------4---4---8-------|2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---|
D|5---------------5---------------5---------------5---------------|2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|0---4-----------0---4-----------0---4-----------0---4-----------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|7---------------7---------------7---------------7---------------|
G|8-----------8---8-----------8---8-----------8---8-----------8---|
D|7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------|
A|6---9-----------6---9-----------6---9-----------6---9-----------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|

Three Note Runs

Chords: Em – F#m – Gaug – A – B – C#dim – D#dim

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

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|0---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|4-------------------------------------------5-------5---7---5---|2---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|4-------4-------4---6---4---6---8---6---8-------8---------------|2-------------------------------------------------------0-------|
D|5---7-------7---------------------------------------------------|2-------------------1-------1---2---1---2---4---2---4-------4---|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|0---2---4---2---4-------4---------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

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

All guitar lessons · The Guitar Scales