The Melodic Minor Scale
Besides the Natural and Harmonic Minor there’s also a third variant of the minor scale and that is Melodic Minor. The melodic minor scale is different in its ascending and descending forms. That means when we go up (playing it) we raise the sixth and the seventh degree by half steps. But then when we go down we follow the natural minor pattern. The pattern of steps when ascending is: W-H-W-W-W-W-H. When descending, it follows the natural minor scale pattern: W-W-H-W-W-H-W.
This scale is used to create different musical flavors in different directions. It also opens new possibilities which were not possible in the Harmonic Minor. (Playing from tonic to sixth degree) For example this jump from the sixth to the seventh degree in the Harmonic Minor is not acceptable in the world of tonal harmony. Why? Because augmented second is a dissonant interval and it disrupts the sense of tonal stability. This also applies to all the jumps of augmented intervals. (Playing) So now with the raising of the sixth degree there’s no such gap anymore and we can go all the way up to the tonic.
So that’s the story about the Melodic Minor. Now I will give you an exercise to play so you can get familiar with the sound of the scale. Just like I did with the Harmonic Minor. You already know what to do after you learn it, play it in different keys for homework. First I’ll play it in the regular tempo, then I will play it slower and show the numbering of the fingers.
Melodic Minor Homework