Just like in the picture above, there is beauty in the melodic minor scale. There is beauty in every scale but maybe you haven’t encountered the beauty of this particular scale. In the olden days when Bach was around they would often mix the 4 forms of the minor scale.

The melodic minor scale is different from the Natural Minor scale in that both the 6th and 7th degrees of the scale are raised by a half step. That gives you a whole new set of chords and harmonies that you can mix and match with the other forms of the minor scale.

Lets take a look at F Melodic Minor. In F Natural minor you have the scale degrees of:

F G Ab Bb C Db Eb

In F Melodic Minor you would raise the Db and the Eb to E and E.

It now looks like this:

F G Ab Bb C D E

The formula for the scale is i ii III+ IV V vio viio.

This means that the 1st and 2nd chords are minor, the 3rd is Augmented, the 4th and 5th are Major and the 6th and 7th are diminished chords.

Ill explain the chords and harmony in a later post. For now, you can enjoy playing around with the scale and forming your own harmonies (chords) from the notes of the scale.

Below you will find the melodic minor scale.

Also known as mode 1. I gave them to you in all keys. Respect the scales. Everything comes from them. Melodies, sequences, patterns, lead guitar licks and arpeggios all come from scales. Before there were chords, there were scales. There were never chords in the beginning. Chords came later. These melodic minor scales can give you some really cool chords and chord progressions. Not to mention you can also use chords from all 3 forms of the minor scale.

First lets get into the scale and learn it well in all 12 minor keys. I started in A and left off in G# Melodic Minor. Thats 12 Keys moving up chromatically. Try not to go straight through them. Play through them creating melodies and licks for each key. I know its a lot of work but if you want to be good with this scale then work its gonna take.

Try to play and learn the scales like the example in the audio below. Don’t go into the up and down thing where you go up and down the scale, have fun with them.

If you are looking for a workout then go up and down, but if not then learn them melodically as in the audio. It will take time but perseverance is the key to any progress in any field.

Talk soon…as there is lots more coming. Remember this blog…has only just begun.

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