What is the Melodic Minor scale?
The melodic minor scale is a great tool for exploring sounds that are non-diatonic. The scale structure is very similar to a diatonic major scale – there are 8 notes and there is either a whole or a half step in between all of them.
In C-major you have the notes as shown above C-D-E-F-G-A-B – which corresponds to the scale formular in scale-degrees 1-2-3-4-5-6-7.
The melodic minor scale in C is very similar to C major. You only have to change one note – you have to lower the major third to a minor third. The note E becomes an Eb.
The scale formular is 1-2-b3-4-5-6-7
It’s useful to be able to think of this scale in different perspectives – when you visualize your fretboard try to think of the scale as a major scale with a low third or for an example a dorian scale with a major 7.
- Try to play the melodic minor scale in one octave in every key on your instrument
- Improvise with a practice drone to internalize the sound
Modes
| Ionian 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dorian 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 Phrygian 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 Lydian 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 Mixolydian 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 Aeolian 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 Locrian 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 |
Just like you have the modes Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian in the diatonic system – you also have scale modes in the melodic minor scale.
They are closely related to the diatonic modes as there only is a one note difference between melodic minor and the major scale.
The modes are different perspectives of the same notes – a song in minor may have the exact same notes as a song in major, however they feel and sound completely different. I cannot stress the importance of learning the modes enough – some of the best use cases of the melodic minor scales stems from exploring the modes.
Melodic Minor Modes:
I’ve written out every mode of the melodic minor scale out – I’ve chosen to write them out all in the same key, so that you clearly can hear the difference between them.
Melodic Minor
Scale formular: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
Dorian b9
Scale formular: 1 b3 b3 4 5 6 b7
Lydian #5
Scale formular: 1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7
Mixolydian #11
Scale formular: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7
Mixolydian b6
Scale formular: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Locrian #2
Scale formular: 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
The Altered Scale
Scale formular: 1 b2 b3 3 b5 b6 b7
- Try to find all the melodic minor modes in the same key by starting the scale from every note!
- Can you do it in all 12 keys?
- Improvise with a practice drone to internalize the different sounds of all the modes.
How can I use the melodic minor scale?
Here are just a few tips!
- Explore playing the altered scale on dominant chords leading towards a minor chord
- Try playing the melodic minor scale instead of the dorian
- Try playing Mixolydian #11 on dominant chords leading towards major
Remember to improvise – and have fun!