We know there are more than just the Natural Minor scale sneaking around out there. The Minor modes find underhanded ways of creating somber moods for us to sulk about our bedrooms to. But there is a Minor scale so secretive, so deadly, you'd think it was a Major scale if you heard it backwards, and then BAM! A lowered 3rd scale degree and your done for!
Sorry. Its hard to make every lesson exciting. The Melodic Minor scale is not a wolf in sheep's clothing waiting to eat your blood. However it is still interesting in its own right.
The Melodic Minor really does look like a Major scale, except with the 3rd scale degree lowered. It has literally done the bare minimum required to become a Minor scale. The kind of scale that cruises by in school with a C average.
It could also bee seen as a Natural Minor scale with a raised 6th and 7th scale degree. The lower tetrachord of the Minor scales is the same, but it is the upper tetrachord where we find the subtle differences by which we can identify them.
The three minor scales each had their individual purposes. Melodic, as you might guess, was used melodically. When writing music in a Minor key, a composer would use the Natural Minor scale, but modify it depending on if the melody was moving upwards towards the Tonic. This new Melodic Minor scale was originally used in a strictly situational way: ONLY when the melody in a given Minor Key was ascending.
This is due to the Leading Tone created by the raised 7th scale degree. A semitone ascending to the Tonic creates a tremendous amount of tension and resolution, and thus the Natural Minor scale was altered in such a way to preserve this. The Natural Minor scale was used for descending melody, but this was originally called Melodic Minor Descending! Seems ridiculous, and we don't need to worry too much about this now. But honestly, these are the types of lost secrets that can elevate your playing to another level when used properly.
Nowadays, using the Melodic Minor as its own static scale is also commonly referred to as Jazz Minor. It is popular among this type of music, because of its leading tone within a minor scale, as well as its diverse and colourful modes. We will explore those in the future, but don’t hesitate to begin getting this scale under your fingers and in your ear.
