Major (Ionian) vs Melodic Minor on Piano
The C major (ionian) and the C melodic minor share 6 notes — C, D, F, G, A, B. From there, the C major (ionian) adds E, while the C melodic minor adds Eb.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor), D3 (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Melodic Minor), Eb3 (flat 3), E3 (3), F3 (4 of C Major (Ionian) and 4 of C Melodic Minor), G3 (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor), A3 (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor), B3 (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Melodic Minor), C4 (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor), D4 (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Melodic Minor), Eb4 (flat 3), E4 (3), F4 (4 of C Major (Ionian) and 4 of C Melodic Minor), G4 (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor), A4 (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor), B4 (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Melodic Minor), C5 (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Major (Ionian) | R · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
| Melodic Minor | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Major (Ionian) | In Melodic Minor |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| A | 6 | 6 |
| B | 7 | 7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the major (ionian): E (3)
- Only in the melodic minor: Eb (b3)