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Jazz Scales
 MELODIC MINOR SCALE

Description

Melodic minor scale
C | C# | D | Eb | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | Bb | B

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Description of the Melodic minor scale

A melodic minor scale consists of 7 different notes.
The intervals from note to note are :

tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - tone - semitone

The scale can also be described as two tetrachords separated by one whole tone.
  • one minor tetrachord : tone - semitone - tone

  • one major tetrachord : tone - tone - semitone

The two tetrachords for the C melodic minor scale are :

(minor tetrachord) C - D - Eb - F <-- tone --> G - A - B - C (major tetrachord)

Audio 1
C melodic minor scale


The key signature for the melodic minor scale is the same as its related major scale which has its its tonic note 3 semitones above.

For example the C melodic minor scale is related to the Eb major scale, and shares that scale's key signature (3 flats).

Audio 2
Related scales


The melodic minor scale was (like the harmonic minor scale) originally derived from the natural minor scale, by raising its 6th and 7th note.
The natural minor in turn is the Aeolian mode of the major scale 3 semitones higher. All three scales use the same key signature.
Eb major scale= Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb
C natural minor= C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
C harmonic minor= C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - B - C
C melodic minor= C - D - Eb - F - G - A - B - C
In Classical music theory the melodic minor and natural minor are combined into one scale.   The melodic minor is used when ascending the scale, the natural minor is used when descending the scale.

Audio 3
classical natural minor

In the past the semitone downward step from tonic to 7th (C - B) was considered too harsh a sound for a minor mood. Therefore the whole tone step from tonic to b7th (C - Bb) was used. The combined scales are called the 'melodic minor scale'.

In Jazz this anomaly does not exist. Each of the two scales is used in its own right, both ascending and descending.

Audio 4
Jazz natural and melodic minors


(Down - Up - Top)


Here are the melodic minor scales in all 12 keys listed in Circle of Fifths order.

  1. C melodic minor scale - Key signature : 3 flats (Ab and Bb cancelled)

    C - D - Eb - F - G - A - B - C


  2. G melodic minor scale - Key signature : 2 flats (Eb and F raised)

    G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F# - G


  3. D melodic minor scale - Key signature : 1 flat (Bb and C raised) (Down - Up - Top)

    D - E - F - G - A - B - C# - D


  4. A melodic minor scale - Key signature : No flats or sharps (F and G raised)

    A - B - C - D - E - F# - G# - A


  5. E melodic minor scale - Key signature : 1 sharp (C and D raised)

    E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D# - E


  6. B melodic minor scale - Key signature : 2 sharps (G and A raised) (Down - Up - Top)

    B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A# - B


  7. F# melodic minor scale - Key signature : 3 sharps (D and E raised)

    F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E# (= F) - F#


  8. C# melodic minor scale - Key signature : 4 sharps (A and B raised)

    C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B# (= C) - C#


  9. G# melodic minor scale - Key signature : 5 sharps (E and F# raised) (Down - Up - Top)

    G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# (= F) - F## (= G) - G#


  10. Eb melodic minor scale - Key signature : 6 flats (Cb and Db raised)

    Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb


  11. Bb melodic minor scale - Key signature : 5 flats (Gb and Ab raised)

    Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - A - Bb


  12. F melodic minor scale - Key signature : 4 flats (Db and Eb raised) (Up - Top)

    F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - E - F


(Up - Top - Improvisation Studio)

Copyright © 2004 Michael Furstner. All rights reserved.