The melodic minor scale seems to be a big mystery to many jazz musicians. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on this mysterious scale without going into too much technical detail. Further study on your own can reap tremendous rewards in your improvising by playing around with some of the ideas introduced in this article.
What is the Melodic Minor scale?
The melodic minor scale is of course a minor scale, which means it contains a minor chord with the root, b3rd, and 5th. There are 5 types of minor scales:
- Natural minor (also known as Aeolian): 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8
- Harmonic minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8
- Melodic minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8
- Dorian: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8
- Phrygian: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8
The melodic minor scale has all of the same notes from the parallel major scale starting on the same note, except it has a b3rd instead of a natural third (since it is a minor scale).
In classical theory, the melodic minor is unique in that the 6th and 7th scale degree are different depending on whether you are ascending or descending. It ascends 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, but descends as a natural minor scale, with the lowered 6th and 7th (8, b7, b6, 5, 4, b3, 2, 1). However, in jazz, scales are vehicles for improvisation, which means that it doesn’t make much sense to have two different pitch collections for ascending and descending. Thus, for the jazz musician, the melodic minor scale is 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 when ascending and also when descending (See Figure 1).
BEFORE YOU CONTINUE...
If music theory has always seemed confusing to you and you wish someone would make it feel simple, our free guide will help you unlock jazz theory secrets.
BEFORE YOU CONTINUE...
If music theory has always seemed confusing to you and you wish someone would make it feel simple, our free guide will help you unlock jazz theory secrets.
Modes of the Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale has 7 modes just like the major scale. The 7 modes are, respectively:
Melodic minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8
Dorian b2: 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8
Lydian augmented: 1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7 8
Lydian dominant: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7 8
Mixolydian b6: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8
Locrian natural 2: 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 8
Super locrian (Altered scale): 1 b2 #2 3 #4 b6 b7 8
For more information, visit the wikipedia page for modes of the melodic minor.
If music theory has always seemed confusing to you and you wish someone would make it feel simple, our free guide will help you unlock jazz theory secrets.BEFORE YOU CONTINUE...
4 Common Melodic Minor Modes
Four of the most important modes of the melodic minor scale include: melodic minor, lydian dominant, super locrian (altered), and lydian augmented. Each one of these modes is used regularly in jazz improvisation in different contexts, and is associated with a different chord.
The melodic minor chord is associated with a min(Maj7) chord. The lydian dominant chord is associated with a 7(#11) scale (lydian has a #4 and dominant/mixolydian has a b7, so lydian dominant has both #4 and b7). The super locrian scale is associated with a 7(#9, b13) chord or 7alt chord. Lydian augment is associated with a Maj7(#5) chord, and is arguably used with less frequency than the other 3 important modes listed in the preceding paragraph.
Here is the same melodic minor lick from C melodic minor used in all four contexts: Cmin(Maj7) (melodic minor mode), EbMaj7(#5) (lydian augmented mode) F7(#11) (lydian dominant mode), and B7alt (super locrian or altered mode).
Melodic Minor Lick Over Different Chords
Hopefully this article and this lick shed some light on the melodic minor mode and how it can be used in jazz improvisation. There is much more to discover, but this should at least be a good start for some further exploration.
For more information on the melodic minor modes, visit: Cool and Unusual Applications of the Melodic Minor Scale, Use of the Melodic Minor Scale In Stella by Starlight, and Melodic Minor Soloing Over a Minor ii-V7-i. For more info on other scales in jazz improvisation, visit: The 16 Most Important Scales in Jazz and Mastering Scales with Tetrachords Part 1 and Part 2.
