A volume dependent lattice dynamical model is presented for the inert gas solids. The model, which incorporates first and second neighbor interactions, utilizes the three elastic constants to predict the phonon dispersion. The volume dependences of the individual phonon frequencies are deduced with the use of a Lennard‐Jones potential. The coefficient of thermal expansion is then calculated from the associated mode‐Gru¨neisen parameters. Finally, the melting curves for solid argon, neon and xenon are calculated with the aid of Lindemann's criterion and the Gr¨neisen equation of state. The calculated results indicate fair agreement with available experimental data.