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melodic minor scale

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  • Mavis Osinski
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The Meaning of Melodic Minor Scale in Music

The melodic minor scale is a variation of the natural minor scale that is used in music. It is characterized by different notes depending on whether it is ascending or descending. When ascending, the melodic minor scale follows a specific interval pattern, and when descending, it often reverts back to the notes of the natural minor scale .

Ascending and Descending Forms

In European classical music, the melodic minor scale has different interval patterns for ascending and descending. The ascending form of the scale follows the interval pattern: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. However, in nearly every other style of music, including jazz, the melodic minor scale follows the same pattern ascending and descending .

Purpose and Harmonies

The melodic minor scale offers a unique sound and adds depth and timbre to music. It produces a series of beautiful and rich harmonies that can enhance musical compositions. Learning and using the melodic minor scale can open up new melodic ideas and expand the musical universe of a composer or musician.

Variation in Notes

One interesting aspect of the melodic minor scale is that the notes can vary depending on the direction in which the scale is being played. When ascending, the scale follows a specific pattern, but when descending, it often reverts back to the notes of the natural minor scale. This variation in notes is not specific to a particular melodic minor scale but applies to all melodic minor scales. It is worth noting that composers have not been consistent in using the ascending and descending forms of the melodic minor scale, and they may choose to use the lowered 7th degree found in the natural minor scale to avoid certain harmonic challenges .

Conclusion

The melodic minor scale is a variation of the natural minor scale used in music. It has different notes when ascending and descending, with the ascending form following a specific interval pattern. The scale produces unique harmonies and can add depth and richness to musical compositions. While the variation in notes may seem unexpected, it is a characteristic of the melodic minor scale and is not specific to a particular key or scale.

The melodic minor scale is the same as the natural minor scale with the exception that the sixth and seventh tones are raised by a semitone (half step) when the scale is ascending. When the scale is descending, the melodic minor is the same as the natural minor, e.g.:

Ascending: C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B, C

Descending: C, B♭, A♭, G, F, E♭, D, C

SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS)
Melodic Minor Scale (Ascending)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
C4

  
D4
E♭4
 
F4

  
G4
 
A4
 
B4
C5
 
Melodic Minor Scale (Descending)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
C4

  
D4
E♭4
 
F4

  
G4
A♭4
 
B♭4
 
C5

See more about modern scale construction in the Appendix.

See more about minor scales in the Appendix.

In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the terms:

Popular questions related to melodic minor scale

: a minor scale with the ascending intervals between the scale tones consisting of whole steps except those between two and three and seven and eight and with the descending intervals corresponding to the pattern of the natural minor scale with half steps between six and five and three and two.

The Melodic Minor scale, in a traditional application, has a different formula when ascending and when descending. When ascending, the melodic minor's formula is 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7, and when descending, the melodic minor's formula is the same as the natural minor's formula: 7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1.

To convert a natural minor scale into melodic minor, raise both the sixth and seventh notes by a semitone. For example, to convert C Natural Minor into C Melodic Minor, simply raise the Ab and Bb a half step to A and B.

This step shows the ascending A melodic minor scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. It also shows the scale degree names for all 8 notes. The A melodic minor scale has 2 sharps. This melodic minor scale is based on the natural minor scale with the same key / tonic note - A natural minor scale.

Melodic Minor Scales

  • A. Notes (ascending): A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A.
  • B. Notes (ascending): B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A#, B.
  • C# / Db. Notes (ascending): C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, C, C#
  • D# / Eb. Notes (ascending): D#, F, F#, G#, A#, C, D, D#
  • F. Notes (ascending): F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F.
  • G. Notes (ascending): G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F#, G.

Here's a list of the 7 modes of the melodic minor scale:

  • Melodic minor scale (aka jazz minor scale)
  • Dorian b2 (aka Phrygian #6)
  • Lydian augmented.
  • Lydian dominant (aka overtone scale)
  • Mixolydian b6.
  • Aeolian b5 (aka Locrian #2)
  • Altered scale (aka super Locrian)

  • Greensleeves (delighting in your company…)
  • Yesterday* - The Beatles (yesterday, all my troubes seemed so far away…)
  • Autumn Leaves (composer: Joseph Kosma) (the autumn leaves of red and gold)
  • Lullaby of Birdland* (composer: George Shearing) (lullaby of Birdland, that's what I..)

The name melodic major refers to the combined scale that proceeds as natural major ascending and as Aeolian dominant descending. It is named melodic major because it closes the augmented second in the harmonic major scale by either sharpening the sixth (ascending) or flattening the seventh (descending).

Melodic minor is used to give ascending lines a major sound, with a leading tone seventh giving a stronger resolution than the subtonic would. There isn't really a set rule as to "when" you would use each of the chord, you would just use whichever one of them fit the music you are trying to write best.

Musical notes played in a specific sequence that is easy to remember and that forms its own unit is the definition of melody. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "Pop Goes the Weasel" are examples of well-known melodies.

The difference between a major and minor chord comes down to one, simple change: the 3rd in a scale. A major chord contains the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the major scale. A minor chord contains the 1st, flattened (lowered) 3rd, and 5th notes of the major scale that it's named for.

Scales and chords A major scale is a scale in which the third scale degree (the mediant) is a major third above the tonic note. In a minor scale, the third degree is a minor third above the tonic.

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