B melodic minor

B1C♯2D♭3E4F♯5G♯6A♯7

Minor third, major sixth and seventh — the ascending form, and the parent of most of the altered sounds below.

Written out

Fig. 2 · B melodic minor, ascending

Every accidental is written in, rather than left to a key signature, so the letters can be read one at a time.

BWC♯HDWEWF♯WG♯WA♯HB

B melodic minor is B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ and A♯, and back to B.

Its steps are W – H – W – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step and H a half.

On the same tonic, B major differs from it by exactly one note.

Across the first twelve frets of the ukulele its notes fall in 29 places, which is what makes a scale a shape rather than a list.

Found by testing every chord in the catalogue against these 7 sounds, not chosen.