Also written Jazz Minor or Gauri Manohari
F♯ melodic minor uses F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E♯. Box 1 starts on string 6, fret 2 for a low root.
F♯ melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh degrees of F♯ natural minor, creating a major-scale upper tetrachord. Compare it with F♯ major, which has A♯ instead of A. The scale is also called Jazz Minor or Gauri Manohari.
F♯ melodic minor fits F♯ minor and F♯ 5th chords. Use it over minor progressions in jazz and fusion for a bright, major-like color on the upper tetrachord.
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 6, fret 2, and the shape covers frets 2–5, setting up Box 2.
F♯ melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 14 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 4 | E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
F♯ melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | C♯, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
F♯ melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 13 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9 | E♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | D♯, E♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
F♯ melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 14 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11 | E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | G♯, A, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
F♯ melodic minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the low E string at fret 14, the G string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | G♯, A, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
F♯ melodic minor, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 7 and runs from fret 0 to fret 6, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2, 4 | A, B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 4 | G♯, A, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 6 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
F♯ melodic minor, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 2 to fret 7, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4, 6 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 4, 6 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4, 6 | A, B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6, 7 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
F♯ melodic minor, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 2 and runs from fret 4 to fret 9, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 8 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6, 8 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 9 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 5, 7, 9 | A, B, C♯ |
F♯ melodic minor, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭3 and runs from fret 5 to fret 11, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 7, 9 | A, B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 9 | G♯, A, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 10 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9, 11 | B, C♯, D♯ |
F♯ melodic minor, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 4 and runs from fret 7 to fret 13, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9, 11 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9, 11 | A, B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | G♯, A, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11, 13 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
F♯ melodic minor, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 9 to fret 14, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 9, the G string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11, 13 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 13 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 13 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 12, 14 | A, B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
F♯ melodic minor, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 6 and runs from fret 11 to fret 16, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the low E string at fret 14, the G string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | D♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | G♯, A, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 15 | C♯, D♯, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14, 16 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 13, 14, 16 | E♯, F♯, G♯ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
F♯ melodic minor contains F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, and E♯. The raised sixth and seventh degrees distinguish it from natural minor. The scale is also known as Jazz Minor or Gauri Manohari. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
F♯ melodic minor fits F♯ minor and F♯ 5th chords. The raised sixth and seventh create a major feel over the upper tetrachord. It suits jazz and fusion minor progressions.
F♯ melodic minor has A natural, while F♯ major has A♯. The sixth and seventh degrees are raised in melodic minor. This gives a minor third with a major sixth and seventh.