C Melodic Minor (Classical) Mandolin Scale, Chords & Progressions
The C Melodic Minor (Classical) scale on mandolin: scale shapes, chords and progressions, with tab you can play along to in the interactive lesson.
Notes going up: C D Eb F G A B
Notes coming down: C A# Ab G F Eb D
Tuning: Standard (G D A E)
Scales
Scale shapes
4NPS - Sixth Position
E|--1---3---5---7-| A|--2---3---5---6-| D|--1---3---5---7-| G|--2---4---5---7-|
Coming down
E|--1---3---4---6-| A|--1---3---5---6-| D|--1---3---5---6-| G|--3---5---7-----|
4NPS - Seventh Position
E|--3---5---7---8-| A|--3---5---6---8-| D|--3---5---7---9-| G|--4---5---7---8-|
Coming down
E|--3---4---6---8-| A|--3---5---6---8-| D|--3---5---6---8-| G|--5---7---8-----|
4NPS - First Position
E|--5---7---8--10-| A|--5---6---8--10-| D|--5---7---9--10-| G|--5---7---8--10-|
Coming down
E|--4---6---8--10-| A|--5---6---8--10-| D|--5---6---8--10-| G|--5---7---8--10-|
Exercises
Basic Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 5 5 6 3 |
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 5 5 6 8 |
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 8 5 6 8 |
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 8 10 10 8 |
| II | Dm | D F A | 2 0 0 1 |
| II | Dm | D F A | 7 7 8 5 |
| II | Dm | D F A | 7 7 8 10 |
| II | Dm | D F A | 10 7 8 10 |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | 0 1 2 x |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | x 1 2 x |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | 0 1 2 3 |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | x 1 2 3 |
| IV | F | F A C | 5 3 0 1 |
| IV | F | F A C | 5 3 3 5 |
| IV | F | F A C | 2 3 3 1 |
| IV | F | F A C | 2 3 3 5 |
| V | G | G B D | 0 0 2 3 |
| V | G | G B D | 4 5 5 3 |
| V | G | G B D | 4 0 2 3 |
| V | G | G B D | 7 5 2 3 |
| VI | Adim | A C Eb | 5 7 6 5 |
| VI | Adim | A C Eb | 8 7 3 5 |
| VII | Bdim | B D F | 7 9 8 7 |
| VII | Bdim | B D F | 10 9 5 7 |
Seventh Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | 0 1 2 x |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | 0 1 2 3 |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | x 1 2 3 |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | 4 1 2 3 |
| II | Dm7 | D F A C | 5 3 3 5 |
| II | Dm7 | D F A C | x 0 3 1 |
| II | Dm7 | D F A C | 2 3 3 1 |
| II | Dm7 | D F A C | 5 3 0 1 |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | 0 0 2 3 |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | 4 0 2 3 |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | 4 5 5 3 |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | 7 5 5 7 |
| IV | F7 | F A C Eb | 5 3 6 5 |
| IV | F7 | F A C Eb | x 3 6 5 |
| IV | F7 | F A C Eb | 8 3 3 8 |
| IV | F7 | F A C Eb | 8 3 6 5 |
| V | G7 | G B D F | 0 0 2 1 |
| V | G7 | G B D F | 0 3 2 1 |
| V | G7 | G B D F | 0 3 2 3 |
| V | G7 | G B D F | 7 5 8 7 |
| VI | Am7b5 | A C Eb G | 5 5 6 3 |
| VI | Am7b5 | A C Eb G | 5 5 6 8 |
| VII | Bm7b5 | B D F A | 7 7 8 5 |
| VII | Bm7b5 | B D F A | 7 7 8 10 |
Ninth Chords
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | 0 0 2 x |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | 0 0 3 x |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | x 0 2 3 |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | x 0 3 3 |
| II | Dm7b9 | D F A C Eb | x 3 6 5 |
| II | Dm7b9 | D F A C Eb | 5 3 6 5 |
| III | Ebmaj9#5 | Eb G B D F | x 5 8 7 |
| III | Ebmaj9#5 | Eb G B D F | 7 5 8 7 |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | 0 1 0 1 |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | 0 1 0 x |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | x 3 0 3 |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | x 1 0 3 |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | 0 0 0 x |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | 0 0 0 1 |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | x 0 0 1 |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | 2 0 2 1 |
| VI | Am9b5 | A C Eb G B | x 9 12 11 |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | x 0 3 1 |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | 2 0 3 1 |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | 2 0 3 x |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | 2 3 3 x |
Triads
Chords
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Fingering (low to high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 0 1 3 x |
| I | Cm | C Eb G | x 1 3 3 |
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 5 5 6 x |
| I | Cm | C Eb G | 8 5 3 x |
| II | Dm | D F A | x 0 0 1 |
| II | Dm | D F A | 2 3 5 x |
| II | Dm | D F A | x 3 5 5 |
| II | Dm | D F A | 7 3 0 x |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | 0 1 2 x |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | x 1 2 3 |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | 4 5 6 x |
| III | Ebaug | Eb G B | x 5 6 7 |
| IV | F | F A C | 2 3 3 x |
| IV | F | F A C | 5 3 0 x |
| IV | F | F A C | x 3 3 5 |
| IV | F | F A C | x 3 0 8 |
| V | G | G B D | 0 0 2 x |
| V | G | G B D | x 0 2 3 |
| V | G | G B D | 4 5 5 x |
| V | G | G B D | 7 5 2 x |
| VI | Adim | A C Eb | 2 1 3 x |
| VI | Adim | A C Eb | 5 1 0 x |
| VI | Adim | A C Eb | x 1 3 5 |
| VI | Adim | A C Eb | 5 7 6 x |
| VII | Bdim | B D F | x 0 2 1 |
| VII | Bdim | B D F | 4 3 5 x |
| VII | Bdim | B D F | 7 3 2 x |
| VII | Bdim | B D F | x 3 5 7 |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | 0 1 2 x |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | x 1 2 3 |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | 4 1 3 x |
| I | Cm(maj7) | C Eb G B | 5 1 2 x |
| II | Dm7 | D F A C | x 0 3 1 |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | 0 0 2 x |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | x 0 2 3 |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | 0 1 5 x |
| III | Ebmaj7#5 | Eb G B D | x 1 5 3 |
| IV | F7 | F A C Eb | x 3 6 5 |
| V | G7 | G B D F | x 5 8 7 |
| VI | Am7b5 | A C Eb G | 0 1 0 x |
| VI | Am7b5 | A C Eb G | x 1 0 3 |
| VI | Am7b5 | A C Eb G | 0 1 3 x |
| VI | Am7b5 | A C Eb G | x 1 3 3 |
| VII | Bm7b5 | B D F A | x 0 0 1 |
| VII | Bm7b5 | B D F A | 2 0 2 x |
| VII | Bm7b5 | B D F A | 2 3 2 x |
| VII | Bm7b5 | B D F A | 4 0 0 x |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | 0 0 2 x |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | 0 0 3 x |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | x 0 2 3 |
| I | Cm(maj9) | C Eb G B D | x 0 3 3 |
| II | Dm7b9 | D F A C Eb | x 3 6 5 |
| III | Ebmaj9#5 | Eb G B D F | x 5 8 7 |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | 0 1 0 x |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | x 3 0 3 |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | x 1 0 3 |
| IV | F9 | F A C Eb G | 0 1 3 x |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | 0 0 0 x |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | x 0 0 1 |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | 2 0 2 x |
| V | G9 | G B D F A | 0 3 0 x |
| VI | Am9b5 | A C Eb G B | x 9 12 11 |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | x 0 3 1 |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | 2 0 3 x |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | 2 3 3 x |
| VII | Bm7b5b9 | B D F A C | 4 0 3 x |
Progressions
Crosspicking (Forward)
Chords: Cm – Dm – Ebaug – F – G – Adim – Bdim
E|3-------------------------------|1-------------------------------| A|6-------6-----------6-----------|0-------0-----------0-----------| D|5---5-----------5-----------5---|0---0-----------0-----------0---| G|5-----------5-----------5-------|2-----------2-----------2-------| E|--------------------------------|1-------------------------------| A|2-------2-----------2-----------|0-------0-----------0-----------| D|1---1-----------1-----------1---|3---3-----------3-----------3---| G|0-----------0-----------0-------|5-----------5-----------5-------| E|3-------------------------------|5-------------------------------| A|2-------2-----------2-----------|6-------6-----------6-----------| D|0---0-----------0-----------0---|7---7-----------7-----------7---| G|0-----------0-----------0-------|5-----------5-----------5-------| E|7-------------------------------| A|8-------8-----------8-----------| D|9---9-----------9-----------9---| G|7-----------7-----------7-------|
Crosspicking (Reverse)
Chords: Cm – Dm – Ebaug – F – G – Adim – Bdim
E|3-------------------------------|1-------------------------------| A|6-----------6-----------6-------|0-----------0-----------0-------| D|5---5-----------5-----------5---|0---0-----------0-----------0---| G|5-------5-----------5-----------|2-------2-----------2-----------| E|--------------------------------|1-------------------------------| A|2-----------2-----------2-------|0-----------0-----------0-------| D|1---1-----------1-----------1---|3---3-----------3-----------3---| G|0-------0-----------0-----------|5-------5-----------5-----------| E|3-------------------------------|5-------------------------------| A|2-----------2-----------2-------|6-----------6-----------6-------| D|0---0-----------0-----------0---|7---7-----------7-----------7---| G|0-------0-----------0-----------|5-------5-----------5-----------| E|7-------------------------------| A|8-----------8-----------8-------| D|9---9-----------9-----------9---| G|7-------7-----------7-----------|
Crosspicking 3-3-2 (Shuffler)
Chords: Cm – Dm – Ebaug – F – G – Adim – Bdim
E|3-------3-----------3-----------|1-------1-----------1-----------| A|6---6-----------6-----------6---|0---0-----------0-----------0---| D|5-----------5-----------5-------|0-----------0-----------0-------| G|5-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| E|--------------------------------|1-------1-----------1-----------| A|2---2-----------2-----------2---|0---0-----------0-----------0---| D|1-----------1-----------1-------|3-----------3-----------3-------| G|0-------------------------------|5-------------------------------| E|3-------3-----------3-----------|5-------5-----------5-----------| A|2---2-----------2-----------2---|6---6-----------6-----------6---| D|0-----------0-----------0-------|7-----------7-----------7-------| G|0-------------------------------|5-------------------------------| E|7-------7-----------7-----------| A|8---8-----------8-----------8---| D|9-----------9-----------9-------| G|7-------------------------------|
Crosspicking (McReynolds 3-1-2)
Chords: Cm – Dm – Ebaug – F – G – Adim – Bdim
E|3---3-----------3-----------3---|1---1-----------1-----------1---| A|6-------6-----------6-----------|0-------0-----------0-----------| D|5-----------5-----------5-------|0-----------0-----------0-------| G|5-------------------------------|2-------------------------------| E|--------------------------------|1---1-----------1-----------1---| A|2-------2-----------2-----------|0-------0-----------0-----------| D|1-----------1-----------1-------|3-----------3-----------3-------| G|0-------------------------------|5-------------------------------| E|3---3-----------3-----------3---|5---5-----------5-----------5---| A|2-------2-----------2-----------|6-------6-----------6-----------| D|0-----------0-----------0-------|7-----------7-----------7-------| G|0-------------------------------|5-------------------------------| E|7---7-----------7-----------7---| A|8-------8-----------8-----------| D|9-----------9-----------9-------| G|7-------------------------------|