Melodic Minor Scales
A Quick Look at What a Melodic Minor Scale is
Melodic Minor scales are minor scales without the 6th and 7th degrees being lowered. So only the 3rd is lowered.
Melodic Minor = 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
A Melodic Minor = A B C D E F# G#
Review:
Natural Minor (Aeolian) = 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
A Natural Minor (also known as A Minor or A Aeolian) = A B C D E F G
Let's explore another Melodic Minor Scale:
G Melodic Minor Scale:
G A Bb C D E F#
So let's do a recap of the different scales you should know at this point:
Major: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Built with the formula: W W H W W W H
G Major: G A B C D E F#
Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W H W W H W W
G Minor: G A Bb C D Eb F
A Dorian b2
So just like our major scale, there will be modes for melodic minor scales. Just to give you an idea, A Dorian b2 would be the 2nd mode of a G Melodic Minor scale. Note that it is the notes of the G Melodic Minor scale being played from A to A.
A Bb C D E F#
If you finished the scale series you might remember that A Dorian would have been the second mode of a G major scale and would look like:
A B C D E F# G