Minor Scale Guide: Learn the Melodic Minor Scale

Melodic minor scales derive from the seven-note natural minor scale, which is characterized by a minor third scale degree (or flat third), a minor sixth scale degree (or flat sixth), and a minor seventh scale degree (or flat seventh). The melodic minor scale is exactly the same as the natural minor in descending form, but it has different notes in ascending form. Going up, the melodic minor scale differs from the natural minor scale in that the sixth scale degree and seventh scale degree are each raised by one semitone, producing natural sixth and natural seventh scale degrees.

Seven notes make up the melodic minor scale, each spaced either one or two semitones apart from one another. However, the spacing between the notes depends upon whether the scale is ascending or descending. Here is each degree of the ascending melodic minor scale:

• First scale degree: the root of the scale
• Second degree: a whole step up from the root
• Flat third degree: a half step up from the second
• Fourth degree: a whole step up from the flat third
• Fifth degree: a whole step up from the fourth
• Sixth degree: a whole step up from the fifth
• Seventh degree: a whole step up from the sixth

The scale concludes with one final half step back to the root, an octave higher than before. Each degree of the descending melodic minor scale is identical to the natural minor scale:

• First scale degree: the root of the scale
• Flat seventh degree: a whole step down from the root
• Flat sixth degree: a whole step down from the flat seventh
• Fifth degree: a half step down from the flat sixth
• Fourth degree: a whole step down from the fifth
• Flat third degree: a whole step down from the fourth
• Second degree: a half step down from the flat third

The scale concludes with a final whole tone down to the root, an octave lower than before.

The melodic minor scale was popular in the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras of music but has become less common over time. Jazz is the contemporary genre that makes the most use of a melodic minor, but it does so in an unusual way.

A jazz minor scale (also known as an altered scale) involves playing a melodic minor scale starting one-half step above the root of an accompanying chord. For instance, if you are playing a G7 chord, the corresponding jazz minor scale would begin on A♭. Unlike classical melodic minor, the jazz minor scale uses the same notes in both ascending form and descending form. On its own, the jazz minor scale pattern may sound strange, but played over seventh chords in a major key jazz tune, it sounds oddly pleasing.

There are several notable comparison points between the harmonic minor scale and the melodic minor scale:

• Melodic minor scales have a raised seventh. The melodic minor scale and harmonic minor scale both feature the raised seventh scale degree (a leading tone), but only the melodic minor includes a raised sixth.
• Descending melodic minor scales have different notes. In descending form, the melodic minor scale has the same notes as a natural minor scale, whereas a harmonic minor scale is the same in both its ascending and descending forms.
• Neither scale aligns with key signatures. Harmonic minor and melodic minor scales do not have corresponding key signatures, which means they are not diatonic scales. Composers indicate harmonic and melodic scales using a combination of a minor key signature and a sharp accidental next to the seventh degree of the scale.
• Both scales lend themselves to augmented chords. By using the raised sixth and raised seventh in a melodic minor scale or just the raised seventh in a harmonic minor scale, you can create augmented triads (where the fifth of a chord is raised a half step).
• Melodic minor more closely aligns with other modes. The melodic minor scale is one scale degree removed from the Dorian mode (which has a flat third, a natural sixth, and a flat seventh) and one degree removed from the Ionian mode (which is simply a major scale). The harmonic minor scale is two degrees removed from both Ionian and Dorian modes. Neither scale aligns with Aeolian mode.
• Both have a major dominant V chord. In both harmonic minor chord progressions and melodic minor chord progressions, the V chord is major. For instance, in a C harmonic minor scale or C melodic minor scale, the V chord would be G major because the note B (which makes a G chord major) is in the C harmonic minor scale.

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