F Melodic Minor Scale
Notes in the F Melodic Minor Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 6 | Major Submediant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | E | 329.628 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Bb | C |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D | E |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | F minor | minor |
| 2 | G | G minor | minor |
| ♭3 | Ab | Ab augmented | augmented |
| 4 | Bb | Bb | major |
| 5 | C | C | major |
| 6 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| 7 | E | E diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
1 ♭ — The F key signature uses Bb.
F Melodic Minor Scale in Practice
The F Melodic Minor Scale uses the key signature of 1 flat (Bb). F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music. On guitar, F positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The melodic minor scale raises both the 6th and 7th degrees ascending to smooth out the augmented second of harmonic minor. In jazz it is used in both directions.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: F Melodic Minor Scale
F is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce F concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in F sound a major sixth lower.