E melodic minor

E1F♯2G♭3A4B5C♯6D♯7

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

Written out

Fig. 2 · E 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.

EWF♯HGWAWBWC♯WD♯HE

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

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

On the same tonic, E 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.