E melodic minor scale on cavaquinho
The E melodic minor scale has 7 notes: E F♯ G A B C♯ D♯ (E, F sharp, G, A, B, C sharp, and D sharp).
- E 1
- F♯ F sharp 2
- G ♭3
- A 4
- B 5
- C♯ C sharp 6
- D♯ D sharp 7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (E) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 1 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 2 (E), 4 (F♯), 5 (G)
- string 3: 2 (A), 4 (B), 6 (C♯)
- string 2: 4 (D♯), 5 (E)
- string 1: 4 (F♯), 5 (G)
Position 2 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 5 (G), 7 (A)
- string 3: 4 (B), 6 (C♯), 8 (D♯)
- string 2: 5 (E), 7 (F♯), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Position 3 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 3: 6 (C♯), 8 (D♯), 9 (E)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A), 9 (B)
Position 4 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
- string 3: 8 (D♯), 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A)
- string 1: 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
Position 5 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
- string 3: 9 (E), 11 (F♯), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B)
- string 1: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
Position 6 (frets 11 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯), 14 (E)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 14 (C♯)
- string 1: 13 (D♯), 14 (E)
Position 7 (frets 12 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 13 (D♯), 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A), 16 (B)
- string 2: 14 (C♯), 16 (D♯), 17 (E)
- string 1: 16 (F♯), 17 (G)
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 (E).
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
- E
- W
- F♯
- H
- G
- W
- A
- W
- B
- W
- C♯
- W
- D♯
- H
- E
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.
Scales with the same notes
More E scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Melodic minor in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E melodic minor scale?
The notes of the E melodic minor scale are E, F sharp, G, A, B, C sharp, and D sharp. The root, degree 1, is E.
What is the formula of the E 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 E 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 (E). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the E melodic minor scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: Em, F♯m, G+, A, B, C♯°, D♯°.