D melodic minor

D1E2F♭3G4A5B6C♯7

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

Written out

Fig. 2 · D 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.

DWEHFWGWAWBWC♯HD

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

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

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

Across the first twelve frets of the ukulele its notes fall in 31 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.