If you already feel comfortable with the major scale and all its modes, chances are you are looking for new scales to enhance your jazz playing.
The major scale and its modes can handle plenty of jazz chord progressions, but they aren’t enough to capture the entire scope of the “jazz sound.” You’ll need more tools in your toolbox.
You should tackle the melodic minor scale next to expand your jazz sound.
In this article, we’ll explore the melodic minor scale and its modes and reveal four essential applications of the scale in jazz improvisation. By the end, you’ll know the melodic minor scale and its modes and be able to wield them effectively when soloing or comping over jazz standards.
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Table of Contents
What is the Melodic Minor Scale Formula?
The minor third interval between the third and first scale degrees makes a minor scale minor. In an A natural minor scale, the third scale degree is a C, and it is three half steps or a minor third away from A. Every minor scale must have this basic requirement.
Outside of this basic requirement, there can be a lot of variation within minor scales, and most differences come down to the arrangement of whole and half steps within the scale. The scale formula distinguishes a natural minor scale from the melodic minor or harmonic minor scale.
The melodic minor scale differs from other minor scales because it has natural sixth and seventh scale degrees.
- Notes: C-D-Eb-F-G-A-B-C
- Intervals: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-6-7-Rt.
- Steps: W-H-W-W-W-W-H
There are two ways to think about the melodic minor scale when comparing it to other scales:
- A C melodic minor scale has all the same intervals as a C major scale, except it has a minor third rather than a major third scale degree.
- C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C vs. C-D-Eb-F-G-A-B-C
- A C melodic minor scale is like a natural minor scale but has major sixth and seventh scale degrees rather than minor sixth and seventh scale degrees.
Check out this article for more on musical intervals like minor thirds and major sixes.
Music Theory: Melodic Minor Scale in Classical Music vs. Jazz Music
In classical theory, the melodic minor has two forms depending on whether you are ascending or descending.
So, what are these two forms?
Classical music’s ascending form is exactly the same as the “jazz minor” scale version. You’ll play a natural 6th and 7th when playing the ascending form.
However, the descending form is different. The descending melodic minor scale has a minor 6th and 7th interval. It is identical to the natural minor scale.
The difference between ascending and descending scales exaggerates the lightness of the scale when moving up and the heaviness of the scale when moving down. This is a cool effect, but it isn’t used much in jazz.
In jazz, improvisers choose notes based on the harmony of the moment. Usually, it doesn’t make sense to have two different pitch collections for ascending and descending (unless the harmony was intentionally written that way).
Classical Melodic Minor Scale (Different Ascending and Descending Forms):
- Ascending Melodic Minor Scale: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-6-7-Rt. (identical to the “jazz minor” scale)
- Descending Melodic Minor Scale: Rt.-b7-b6-5-4-b3-2-Rt. (identical to the natural minor scale)
Jazz Melodic Minor Scale (Same Form Whether Ascending or Descending)
- Ascends: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-6-7-Rt.
- Descends: Rt.-7-5-5-4-b3-2-Rt.
We keep the sixth and seventh degrees natural when using the melodic minor scale in jazz, whether ascending or descending.
Other Common Types of Minor Scales:
Knowing other minor scales helps you quickly identify the factors that make each scale different. The following four minor scales have different scale degrees, making them unique compared to the melodic minor scale.
The first three minor scales are modes of the major scale and can be found in diatonic major and minor keys:
- Aeolian mode or natural minor scale (the tonic in minor keys)
- Dorian Mode
- Phrygian Mode
The last one is the harmonic minor scale, which is non-diatonic like the melodic minor scale. It has its own modes and seventh chords.
1. The Natural Minor Scale (also known as the Aeolian mode or 6th mode of the major scale):
- Notes: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C
- Intervals: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Check out this article for more on the Aeolian mode.
2. Dorian (the second mode of the major scale):
- Notes: C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C
- Intervals: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Check out this article for more on the Dorian mode.
3. Phrygian (the third mode of the major scale):
- Notes: C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C
- Intervals: Rt.-b2-b3-4-5-b6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: H-W-W-W-H-W-W
Check out this article for more on the Phrygian mode.
4. Harmonic Minor Scale:
- Harmonic Minor Scale Notes: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-B-C
- Harmonic Minor Scale Intervals: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-b6-7-Rt.
- Harmonic Minor Scale Steps: W-H-W-W-H-+2nd-H
Check out this article for more on the harmonic minor scale.
Practice Tip: When memorizing these different minor scales, note the factors that make each unique! Remember that melodic minor scales have a natural sixth and a natural seventh scale degree, while natural minor scales have a minor sixth and seventh scale degree.
If you need a refresher on all the major scale modes, check out our guide to the seven major scale modes. Also, check out this article for a more in-depth article on the differences between minor scales.
The Melodic Minor Scale in All 12 Keys
Let’s learn the melodic minor scale in all twelve keys on piano and guitar.
C Melodic Minor Scale
- C-D-Eb-F-G-A-B-C
F Melodic Minor Scale
- F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-E-F
Bb Melodic Minor Scale
- Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-G-A-Bb
Eb Melodic Minor Scale
- Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb-C-D-Eb
Ab Melodic Minor Scale
- Ab-Bb-Cb-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab
Db Melodic Minor Scale
- Db-Eb-Fb-Gb-Ab-Bb-C
F# Melodic Minor Scale
- F#-G#-A-B-C#-D#-E#-F#
B Melodic Minor Scale
- B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A#-B
E Melodic Minor Scale
- E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D#-E
A Melodic Minor Scale
- A-B-C-D-E-F#-G#-A
D Melodic Minor Scale
- D-E-F-G-A-B-C#-D
G Melodic Minor Scale
- G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F#-G
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.
Seven Modes of the Melodic Minor Scale
image source: Wikimedia Commons
The melodic minor scale has seven notes in it. Therefore, the melodic minor scale contains seven different modes. Consider each of the notes in the melodic minor sequence as its own root note.
You get six other scales with unique sounds and characteristics when you do this. Some of these melodic minor scale modes are extremely useful for jazz improvisation. We’ll get into the specific uses for some of them later on.
Here are the seven modes of the melodic minor scale:
1. Melodic Minor Scale
We’ve already covered this above, but here it is again:
- Notes: C-D-Eb-F-G-A-B-C
- Intervals: Rt.-2-b3-4-5-6-7-Rt.
- Steps: W-H-W-W-W-W-H
2. Dorian Flat 2
- Notes: D-Eb-F-G-A-B-C-D
- Intervals: Rt.-b2-b3-4-5-6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: H-W-W-W-W-H-W
3. Lydian Augmented
- Notes: Eb-F-G-A-B-C-D-Eb
- Intervals: Rt.-2-3-#4-#5-6-7-Rt.
- Steps: W-W-W-W-H-W-H
4. Lydian Dominant
- Notes: F-G-A-B-C-D-Eb-F
- Intervals: Rt.-2-3-#4-5-6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: W-W-W-H-W-H-W
5. Mixolydian b6
- Notes: G-A-B-C-D-Eb-F-G
- Intervals: Rt.-2-3-4-5-b6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: W-W-H-W-H-W-W
6. Locrian Natural 2
- Notes: A-B-C-D-Eb-F-G-A
- Intervals: Rt.-2-b3-4-b5-b6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: W-H-W-H-W-W-W
7. Super Locrian (Altered scale)
- Notes: B-C-D-Eb-F-G-A-B
- Intervals: Rt.-b2-b3-3-b5-b6-b7-Rt.
- Steps: H-W-H-W-W-W-W
Four Common Melodic Minor Modes Used In Jazz Improvisation
Check out this video on how to use the melodic minor scale when soloing.
The four most important modes of the melodic minor scale you need to memorize and start practicing are:
- Melodic minor scale
- Lydian augmented (3rd mode of the melodic minor scale)
- Lydian dominant (4th mode of the melodic minor scale)
- Super locrian/Altered scale (7th mode of the melodic minor scale)
Here are the melodic minor chords shown in a chord scale. Two of these chords are non-diatonic chords because they aren’t derived from the major or natural minor scale: C-(maj7) and Ebmaj7#5.
Jazz musicians regularly use these modes when improvising over different chords.
Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale can be played over a min(Maj7) chord because of the major 7th interval in both the chord and the scale. This scale is often used in jazz standards like Autumn Leaves, which use the minor(maj7) sound.
This seventh chord is constructed by taking a minor triad and adding a major seventh interval instead of a minor seventh interval. For a Cmin(maj7) chord, you’d spell it like so:
- M7th – B
- 5th – G
- m3rd – Eb
- Rt. – C
One tune that famously uses this chord is Miles Davis’s Solar.
Lydian Augmented
The 3rd mode of the melodic minor scale is a Lydian scale with a #5. This scale will work over maj7 chords with a #5. Though not as common as other 7th chords, Maj7(#5) chords do occur in jazz.
You can build a maj7(#5) chord by taking an augmented triad (a root, major 3rd, and augmented 5th) and adding a major 7th.
Let’s spell out an Ebmaj7#5 chord:
- M7th – D
- Aug5th – B
- M3rd – G
- Rt. – Eb
The Wayne Shorter tune Iris utilizes a maj7(#5) chord in its chord progression.
Lydian Dominant
The fourth mode of the melodic minor scale is a Mixolydian scale with a #4. This scale works well over dominant chords with a #11. Seven (#11) chords are found throughout jazz tunes and are commonly associated with the “dominant II” chord.
Here is how you’d spell out an F7(#11) chord (you don’t need to include all the notes shown when playing):
- #11th – B
- 9th – G
- m7th – Eb
- 5th – C
- M3rd – A
- Rt. – F
The “dominant II sound” can be heard in many jazz standards, from Donna Lee and Confirmation to Just Friends (to name a few).
Super Locrian/Altered Scale
The 7th mode of the melodic minor scale is associated with altered chords. With altered chords, some or all of the chord’s upper extensions (9th, 11th, and 13th) are altered. Not all of these altered notes have to be present.
Altered extensions:
- b13th/#5th – G
- b5th/#11th – F
- #9th – D
- b9th – C
In summary, certain modes of the melodic minor scale are very useful for jazz improvisation:
- The melodic minor scale works well over minor(maj7) chords.
- Lydian augmented (3rd mode of the melodic minor scale) works well over maj7 chords with a #5.
- Lydian dominant (4th mode of the melodic minor scale) works well over dominant chords with a #11.
- Super locrian/Altered scale (7th mode of the melodic minor scale) works well over altered dominant chords.
Altered Dominant chords are common in various jazz contexts but are often used in minor iiø-V-i progressions.
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