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

The F 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: F G Ab Bb C D E

Notes coming down: F D# Db C Bb Ab G

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

Scales

Scale shapes

CAGED - C Shape

E|--0---1---3-|
B|--1---3-----|
G|--1---3-----|
D|--2---3---5-|
A|--3---5-----|
D|--6---8-----|

Coming down

E|--1---3-----|
B|--1---2---4-|
G|--1---3-----|
D|--1---3---5-|
A|--3---4-----|
D|--6---8-----|

CAGED - A Shape

E|--4---6-----|
B|--5---6---8-|
G|--5---7-----|
D|--6---8-----|
A|--7---8--10-|
D|-10--12-----|

Coming down

E|--4---6-----|
B|--4---6---8-|
G|--5---6-----|
D|--6---8-----|
A|--6---8--10-|
D|-10--11-----|

CAGED - G Shape

E|--8--10-----|
B|--9--11-----|
G|--9--10--12-|
D|-10--12-----|
A|-10--11--13-|
D|-12--14--15-|

Coming down

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

CAGED - E Shape

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

Coming down

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

CAGED - D Shape

E|--0---1---3-|
B|--1---3-----|
G|--1---3-----|
D|--2---3---5-|
A|--3---5-----|
D|--5---6---8-|

Coming down

E|--1---3-----|
B|--1---2---4-|
G|--1---3-----|
D|--1---3---5-|
A|--3---4-----|
D|--5---6---8-|

3NPS - First Position

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

Coming down

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

Exercises

Basic Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x x 3 1 1 1`
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x x 3 1 1 4`
I	Fm	F Ab C	`3 3 3 1 1 1`
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x x 3 1 1 x`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x x 5 3 3 3`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x x 5 3 3 6`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`5 5 5 3 3 3`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x x 5 3 3 x`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x x x 1 1 0`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x x 6 5 5 x`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x x 6 9 9 8`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x 11 10 9 9 x`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x 1 3 3 3 1`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x 1 3 3 3 x`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x x x 3 3 1`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x x 8 7 6 6`
V	C	C E G	`x 3 2 0 1 0`
V	C	C E G	`x 3 5 5 5 3`
V	C	C E G	`x 3 2 0 1 x`
V	C	C E G	`x 3 2 0 x x`
VI	Ddim	D F Ab	`x 5 6 7 6 x`
VI	Ddim	D F Ab	`x x 12 10 9 10`
VI	Ddim	D F Ab	`x x 6 7 6 x`
VI	Ddim	D F Ab	`x 11 12 10 x x`
VII	Edim	E G Bb	`x 7 8 9 8 x`
VII	Edim	E G Bb	`x x 14 12 11 12`
VII	Edim	E G Bb	`x 1 2 0 x x`
VII	Edim	E G Bb	`x x 8 9 8 x`

Seventh Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`3 3 2 1 1 0`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`3 3 3 1 1 0`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`x x 3 1 1 0`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`3 3 2 1 1 1`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`5 5 3 3 3 3`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`5 5 3 3 3 x`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`x x 5 3 6 3`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`x x 5 3 6 x`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x 3 2 0 1 0`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x 3 2 0 x x`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x x 2 0 1 x`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x 3 2 0 1 x`
IV	Bb7	Bb D F Ab	`x 1 3 3 3 4`
IV	Bb7	Bb D F Ab	`x 1 3 1 3 1`
IV	Bb7	Bb D F Ab	`x 1 3 1 3 x`
IV	Bb7	Bb D F Ab	`x x 8 7 9 6`
V	C7	C E G Bb	`x 3 2 3 1 3`
V	C7	C E G Bb	`x 3 2 3 1 0`
V	C7	C E G Bb	`x 3 5 3 5 3`
V	C7	C E G Bb	`x 3 5 3 5 x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x x 0 1 1 1`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x 5 6 5 6 x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x 5 3 5 3 x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x 5 3 5 x x`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x x 2 3 3 3`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x x 2 0 3 x`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x 7 8 7 8 x`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x 7 5 7 5 x`

Ninth Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x x 3 0 1 0`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x x 3 5 5 3`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x 8 5 5 5 x`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x 3 2 0 x x`
II	Gm7b9	G Bb D F Ab	`x x 5 3 6 4`
II	Gm7b9	G Bb D F Ab	`x x 5 7 6 4`
II	Gm7b9	G Bb D F Ab	`x 1 3 3 3 4`
II	Gm7b9	G Bb D F Ab	`x 1 3 1 3 1`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x 11 10 12 11 x`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x 1 2 0 x x`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x 1 2 1 x x`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x 3 2 3 1 3`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x 1 0 1 1 1`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x 13 12 13 13 10`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x x 0 1 1 1`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x x x 1 1 1`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x 3 2 3 3 0`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x 3 2 3 3 3`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x x 2 3 3 3`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x x 2 0 3 x`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`x x 0 1 1 0`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`0 3 0 1 1 0`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`0 3 0 1 3 0`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`0 3 2 1 1 0`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x 2 0 3 1`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x 3 3 3 3`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x x 3 3 1`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x 3 3 3 x`

Triads

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x x 3 1 1 x`
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x x x 10 9 8`
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x x x 1 1 1`
I	Fm	F Ab C	`x 3 3 1 x x`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x x 5 3 3 x`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x x x 12 11 10`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x x x 3 3 3`
II	Gm	G Bb D	`x 5 5 3 x x`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x x x 1 1 0`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x x 6 5 5 x`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x 11 10 9 x x`
III	Abaug	Ab C E	`x x 2 1 1 x`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x x x 3 3 1`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x x 8 7 6 x`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x 13 12 10 x x`
IV	Bb	Bb D F	`x x 3 3 3 x`
V	C	C E G	`x 3 2 0 x x`
V	C	C E G	`x x x 5 5 3`
V	C	C E G	`x x 10 9 8 x`
V	C	C E G	`x x 2 0 1 x`
VI	Ddim	D F Ab	`x x 6 7 6 x`
VI	Ddim	D F Ab	`x 11 12 10 x x`
VII	Edim	E G Bb	`x 1 2 0 x x`
VII	Edim	E G Bb	`x x 8 9 8 x`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`3 3 2 x x x`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`x x 3 5 5 x`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`x 8 6 9 x x`
I	Fm(maj7)	F Ab C E	`x 8 10 9 x x`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`x x 5 3 6 x`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`x 10 8 10 x x`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`x x x 3 3 1`
II	Gm7	G Bb D F	`x x 3 3 3 x`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x 3 2 0 x x`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x x 2 0 1 x`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x x x 5 5 3`
III	Abmaj7#5	Ab C E G	`x x 5 5 5 x`
IV	Bb7	Bb D F Ab	`x x 6 7 6 x`
IV	Bb7	Bb D F Ab	`x 11 12 10 x x`
V	C7	C E G Bb	`x 1 2 0 x x`
V	C7	C E G Bb	`x x 8 9 8 x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x 5 3 5 x x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x 5 6 5 x x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x x 12 10 13 x`
VI	Dm7b5	D F Ab C	`x x x 1 1 1`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x x 2 0 3 x`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x 7 5 7 x x`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x 7 8 7 x x`
VII	Em7b5	E G Bb D	`x x x 3 3 3`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x 3 2 0 x x`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x x 2 0 1 x`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x x x 5 5 3`
I	Fm(maj9)	F Ab C E G	`x x 5 5 5 x`
II	Gm7b9	G Bb D F Ab	`x x 6 7 6 x`
II	Gm7b9	G Bb D F Ab	`x 11 12 10 x x`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x 1 2 0 x x`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x 1 2 1 x x`
III	Abmaj9#5	Ab C E G Bb	`x x 8 9 8 x`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x x x 1 1 1`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x x 3 1 1 x`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x 3 3 1 x x`
IV	Bb9	Bb D F Ab C	`x 5 3 5 x x`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x x 2 0 3 x`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x x x 3 3 3`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x x 5 3 3 x`
V	C9	C E G Bb D	`x 5 5 3 x x`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`0 3 2 x x x`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`x 5 2 5 x x`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`x 7 0 5 x x`
VI	Dm9b5	D F Ab C E	`x x x 7 6 0`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x x 3 3 1`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x 3 3 3 x`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x 5 3 3 x x`
VII	Em7b5b9	E G Bb D F	`x x 8 7 6 x`

Progressions

Arpeggios

Chords: Fm – Gm – Abaug – Bb – C – Ddim – Edim

E|1---------------1---------------1---------------1---------------|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|
B|1-----------6---1-----------6---1-----------6---1-----------6---|3-----------8---3-----------8---3-----------8---3-----------8---|
G|1---1---5-------1---1---5-------1---1---5-------1---1---5-------|3---3---7-------3---3---7-------3---3---7-------3---3---7-------|
D|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|5---------------5---------------5---------------5---------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

E|0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|1-----------1---1-----------1---1-----------1---1-----------1---|6---------------6---------------6---------------6---------------|
G|0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------|7-----------7---7-----------7---7-----------7---7-----------7---|
D|2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------2---2-----------|6-------6-------6-------6-------6-------6-------6-------6-------|
A|3---------------3---------------3---------------3---------------|5---8-----------5---8-----------5---8-----------5---8-----------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

Three Note Runs

Chords: Fm – Gm – Abaug – Bb – C – Ddim – Edim

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

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

E|0---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|1---------------------------------------------------------------|6---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|0-------------------------------0-------0---1---0---1---3---1---|7-------------------------------------------------------5-------|
D|2---0---2---0---2---3---2---3-------3---------------------------|6-------------------5-------5---6---5---6---8---6---8-------8---|
A|3---------------------------------------------------------------|5---7---8---7---8-------8---------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

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