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Cavaquinho Standard
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A melodic minor scale on cavaquinho

The A melodic minor scale has 7 notes: A B C D E F♯ G♯ (A, B, C, D, E, F sharp, and G sharp).

  1. A 1
  2. B 2
  3. C ♭3
  4. D 4
  5. E 5
  6. F♯ F sharp 6
  7. G♯ G sharp 7
A melodic minor scale on cavaquinho: the whole fretboard with the notes A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, from fret 0 to 17

Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (A) is highlighted.

Positions as text

Position 6 (frets 4 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯), 7 (A)
  • string 3: 4 (B), 5 (C), 7 (D)
  • string 2: 5 (E), 7 (F♯)
  • string 1: 6 (G♯), 7 (A)

Position 7 (frets 5 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 6 (G♯), 7 (A), 9 (B)
  • string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 9 (E)
  • string 2: 7 (F♯), 9 (G♯), 10 (A)
  • string 1: 9 (B), 10 (C)

Position 1 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 10 (C)
  • string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
  • string 2: 9 (G♯), 10 (A)
  • string 1: 9 (B), 10 (C)

Position 2 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 9 (B), 10 (C), 12 (D)
  • string 3: 9 (E), 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯)
  • string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B), 13 (C)
  • string 1: 12 (D)

Position 3 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 14 (E)
  • string 3: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯), 14 (A)
  • string 2: 12 (B), 13 (C)
  • string 1: 12 (D), 14 (E)

Position 4 (frets 12 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
  • string 3: 13 (G♯), 14 (A), 16 (B)
  • string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D)
  • string 1: 14 (E), 16 (F♯)

Position 5 (frets 13 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:

  • string 4: 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
  • string 3: 13 (G♯), 14 (A), 16 (B)
  • string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D), 17 (E)
  • string 1: 16 (F♯)

Fretboard positions

Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (A).

On the cavaquinho the strings sit close together in pitch, and the 3-notes-per-string shape from the guitar would turn into a 7-fret stretch. That is why each position here fits within 5 frets.

Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.

Formula

  1. A
  2. W
  3. B
  4. H
  5. C
  6. W
  7. D
  8. W
  9. E
  10. W
  11. F♯
  12. W
  13. G♯
  14. H
  15. A

Degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7. Steps: W – H – W – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step).

About the melodic minor scale

Minor with major 6th and 7th (the jazz form). A minor sound, but bright.

Harmonized scale (chords in the key)

The chords that come from the scale, stacking thirds from each note.

Degree Triad Seventh chord Function
Im Am Am(7M) tonic
IIm Bm Bm7 subdominant
III+ C+ C7M(#5) tonic
IV D D7 subdominant
V E E7 dominant
VI° F♯° F♯m7(b5) subdominant
VII° G♯° G♯m7(b5) dominant

Scales with the same notes

More A scales

Melodic minor in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the A melodic minor scale?

The notes of the A melodic minor scale are A, B, C, D, E, F sharp, and G sharp. The root, degree 1, is A.

What is the formula of the A melodic minor scale?

In degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7. In steps between the notes: W – H – W – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do you play the A melodic minor scale on cavaquinho?

Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (A). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.

Which chords belong to the A melodic minor scale?

The chords of the harmonized scale are: Am, Bm, C+, D, E, F♯°, G♯°.

On other instruments

All scales on cavaquinho