Melodic Minor Scales
The melodic minor scale is different than other minor scales. While it still contains seven notes, the notes ascending are different than the notes descending. Ascending, the melodic minor is similar to the natural minor except that the sixth scale degree and the seventh scale degrees are raised. However, descending the sixth and seventh scale degrees are lowered back to the natural minor.
The ascending pattern is :
Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Whole Half
The descending pattern is:
Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole
For example, lets look a C melodic minor.
The ascending pattern is :
Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Whole Half
The descending pattern is:
Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole
For example, lets look a C melodic minor.
Photo Credit: [Melodic Minor Scale] Library Think Quest retrieved on 9/25/2013 from library.thinkquest.org
Listen to the melodic minor scale played on the guitar in the following clip.
Video Credit: [Melodic Minor Scale] Youtube retrieved on 9/25/2013 from www.youtube.com
The melodic minor scale can be played in all twelve of the minor keys but the pattern of whole and half steps always rem ins the same. For example, in ascending E melodic minor:
E to F-sharp F-sharp to G G to A A to B B to C-sharp C-sharp to D-sharp D-sharp to E
Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Whole Half
descending E melodic minor:
E to D D to C C to B B to A A to G G to F-sharp F-sharp to E
Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole
E to F-sharp F-sharp to G G to A A to B B to C-sharp C-sharp to D-sharp D-sharp to E
Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Whole Half
descending E melodic minor:
E to D D to C C to B B to A A to G G to F-sharp F-sharp to E
Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole
Photo Credit: [E melodic minor] Wikimedia Commons retrieved on 9/25/2013 from commons.wikimedia.org