A#/Bb Melodic Minor (Classical) Mandolin Scale, Chords & Progressions

The A#/Bb Melodic Minor (Classical) scale on mandolin (A sharp / B flat melodic minor (classical)): scale shapes, chords and progressions, with tab you can play along to in the interactive lesson.

Notes going up: Bb C Db Eb F G A

Notes coming down: Bb G# Gb F Eb Db C

Tuning: Standard (G D A E)

Scales

Scale shapes

4NPS - Seventh Position

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

Coming down

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

4NPS - First Position

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

Coming down

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

4NPS - Second Position

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

Coming down

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

Exercises

Basic Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`3 3 4 1`
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`3 3 4 6`
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`6 3 4 6`
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`6 8 8 6`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`5 5 6 3`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`5 5 6 8`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`8 5 6 8`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`8 10 10 8`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`x x 0 1`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`x 3 0 x`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`2 3 x x`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`2 3 4 1`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`3 1 1 3`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`0 1 1 3`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`3 5 6 3`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`3 5 6 6`
V	F	F A C	`5 3 0 1`
V	F	F A C	`5 3 3 5`
V	F	F A C	`2 3 3 1`
V	F	F A C	`2 3 3 5`
VI	Gdim	G Bb Db	`3 5 4 3`
VI	Gdim	G Bb Db	`6 5 1 3`
VII	Adim	A C Eb	`5 7 6 5`
VII	Adim	A C Eb	`8 7 3 5`

Seventh Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`3 3 0 1`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`3 3 0 x`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`2 3 1 1`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`2 3 1 x`
II	Cm7	C Eb G Bb	`3 1 1 3`
II	Cm7	C Eb G Bb	`3 5 6 3`
II	Cm7	C Eb G Bb	`3 5 6 6`
II	Cm7	C Eb G Bb	`5 5 6 6`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`5 3 3 5`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`2 3 3 1`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`5 3 0 1`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`5 7 8 5`
IV	Eb7	Eb G Bb Db	`3 1 4 3`
IV	Eb7	Eb G Bb Db	`x 1 4 3`
IV	Eb7	Eb G Bb Db	`6 1 1 6`
IV	Eb7	Eb G Bb Db	`6 1 4 3`
V	F7	F A C Eb	`5 3 6 5`
V	F7	F A C Eb	`x 3 6 5`
V	F7	F A C Eb	`8 3 3 8`
V	F7	F A C Eb	`8 3 6 5`
VI	Gm7b5	G Bb Db F	`3 3 4 1`
VI	Gm7b5	G Bb Db F	`3 3 4 6`
VII	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`5 5 6 3`
VII	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`5 5 6 8`

Ninth Chords

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`2 3 3 x`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`3 3 3 x`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`5 3 0 x`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`5 3 1 5`
II	Cm7b9	C Eb G Bb Db	`x 1 4 3`
II	Cm7b9	C Eb G Bb Db	`3 1 4 3`
III	Dbmaj9#5	Db F A C Eb	`x 3 6 5`
III	Dbmaj9#5	Db F A C Eb	`5 3 6 5`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`x 1 1 1`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`0 3 1 x`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`x 3 1 3`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`0 1 4 1`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`0 1 0 1`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`0 1 0 x`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 3 0 3`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 1 0 3`
VI	Gm9b5	G Bb Db F A	`x 7 10 9`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`0 1 1 x`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`2 1 1 x`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`3 1 0 3`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`3 1 0 x`

Triads

Chords

Degree	Chord	Notes	Fingering (low to high)
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`3 3 4 x`
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`6 3 1 x`
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`x 3 4 6`
I	Bbm	Bb Db F	`6 8 8 x`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`0 1 3 x`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`x 1 3 3`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`5 5 6 x`
II	Cm	C Eb G	`8 5 3 x`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`2 3 4 x`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`x 3 4 5`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`6 3 0 x`
III	Dbaug	Db F A	`6 7 8 x`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`0 1 1 x`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`x 1 1 3`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`3 5 6 x`
IV	Eb	Eb G Bb	`x 5 6 6`
V	F	F A C	`2 3 3 x`
V	F	F A C	`5 3 0 x`
V	F	F A C	`x 3 3 5`
V	F	F A C	`x 3 0 8`
VI	Gdim	G Bb Db	`3 5 4 x`
VI	Gdim	G Bb Db	`6 5 1 x`
VI	Gdim	G Bb Db	`x 5 4 6`
VI	Gdim	G Bb Db	`x 8 4 3`
VII	Adim	A C Eb	`2 1 3 x`
VII	Adim	A C Eb	`5 1 0 x`
VII	Adim	A C Eb	`x 1 3 5`
VII	Adim	A C Eb	`5 7 6 x`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`3 3 0 x`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`2 3 1 x`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`2 3 4 x`
I	Bbm(maj7)	Bb Db F A	`x 3 1 5`
II	Cm7	C Eb G Bb	`x 10 13 11`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`2 3 3 x`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`5 3 0 x`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`x 3 3 5`
III	Dbmaj7#5	Db F A C	`5 3 4 x`
IV	Eb7	Eb G Bb Db	`x 1 4 3`
V	F7	F A C Eb	`x 3 6 5`
VI	Gm7b5	G Bb Db F	`0 3 1 x`
VI	Gm7b5	G Bb Db F	`x 3 1 3`
VI	Gm7b5	G Bb Db F	`0 3 4 x`
VI	Gm7b5	G Bb Db F	`3 3 4 x`
VII	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`0 1 0 x`
VII	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x 1 0 3`
VII	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`0 1 3 x`
VII	Am7b5	A C Eb G	`x 1 3 3`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`2 3 3 x`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`3 3 3 x`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`5 3 0 x`
I	Bbm(maj9)	Bb Db F A C	`5 3 1 x`
II	Cm7b9	C Eb G Bb Db	`x 1 4 3`
III	Dbmaj9#5	Db F A C Eb	`x 3 6 5`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`x 1 1 1`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`0 3 1 x`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`x 3 1 3`
IV	Eb9	Eb G Bb Db F	`0 3 4 x`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`0 1 0 x`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 3 0 3`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`x 1 0 3`
V	F9	F A C Eb G	`0 1 3 x`
VI	Gm9b5	G Bb Db F A	`x 7 10 9`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`0 1 1 x`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`2 1 1 x`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`3 1 0 x`
VII	Am7b5b9	A C Eb G Bb	`x 1 1 3`

Progressions

Crosspicking (Forward)

Chords: Bbm – Cm – Dbaug – Eb – F – Gdim – Adim

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

E|1-------------------------------|3-------------------------------|
A|0-------0-----------0-----------|1-------1-----------1-----------|
D|--------------------------------|1---1-----------1-----------1---|
G|--------------------------------|3-----------3-----------3-------|

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

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

Crosspicking (Reverse)

Chords: Bbm – Cm – Dbaug – Eb – F – Gdim – Adim

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

E|1-------------------------------|3-------------------------------|
A|0-----------0-----------0-------|1-----------1-----------1-------|
D|--------------------------------|1---1-----------1-----------1---|
G|--------------------------------|3-------3-----------3-----------|

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

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

Crosspicking 3-3-2 (Shuffler)

Chords: Bbm – Cm – Dbaug – Eb – F – Gdim – Adim

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

E|1-------1-----------1-----------|3-------3-----------3-----------|
A|0---0-----------0-----------0---|1---1-----------1-----------1---|
D|--------------------------------|1-----------1-----------1-------|
G|--------------------------------|3-------------------------------|

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

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

Crosspicking (McReynolds 3-1-2)

Chords: Bbm – Cm – Dbaug – Eb – F – Gdim – Adim

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

E|1---1-----------1-----------1---|3---3-----------3-----------3---|
A|0-------0-----------0-----------|1-------1-----------1-----------|
D|--------------------------------|1-----------1-----------1-------|
G|--------------------------------|3-------------------------------|

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

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

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