Explore scales · Ukulele
E♭ melodic minor scale on ukulele
E♭ melodic minor contains E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 with roots on string 3 fret 3 and string 1 fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the E♭ melodic minor scale on ukulele?
E♭ melodic minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 9 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the C string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 2, 3 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1, 2 | F, G♭ |
| 1 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ melodic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 3 (C) | 3, 5, 6 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
E♭ melodic minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the G string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 6, 8 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 1 (A) | 5, 6, 8 | D, E♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ melodic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 11 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 8 and the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
Lower the third of E♭ major to G♭ and keep the raised sixth and seventh. The result is 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with intervals 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. Compare it with E♭ major to hear the single-note difference.
When to use it
Use it over E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords in jazz and fusion. The raised sixth and seventh smooth lines over E♭ minor and E♭ 5th. It fits minor-key vamps and modal interchange.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 3 fret 3 and covers frets 0–3, setting up the shift to Box 2.
Common questions
Which notes are in E♭ melodic minor?
The notes are E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, and D. The scale has a minor third and major sixth and seventh. This gives it a brighter sound than natural minor. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords fit E♭ melodic minor?
The tonic chord is E♭ minor. The fourth and fifth degrees are A♭ major and B♭ major. The sixth and seventh degrees are C minor 7♭5 and D minor 7♭5.
How does E♭ melodic minor differ from E♭ major?
E♭ melodic minor has a flat third compared to E♭ major. The sixth and seventh degrees are the same. Only the note G♭ differs from G.