This is needed to ensure that when it comes to writing the scale notes on a musical staff (eg. The rule ensures that every position of a staff is used once and once only - whether that position be a note in a space, or a note on a line.

The 7 unique notes in a scale need to be named such that each letter from A to G is used once only, so each note name is either a natural white name( A. This step tries to give assign names to the piano keys identified in the previous step, so that they can be written on a note staff in the Solution section. The 6th and 7th note positions (or scale degrees) of the minor scale are raised by one half-tone / semitone to arrive at the melodic minor scale note positions shown above. What is the difference between the A melodic minor scale and the A natural minor scale ? The tonic note (shown as *) is the starting point and is always the 1st note in the melodic minor scale.Īgain, the final 8th note is the octave note, having the same name as the tonic note. To count up a Half-tone (semitone), count up from the last note up by one physical piano key, either white or black. To count up a Whole tone, count up by two physical piano keys, either white or black. The melodic minor scale uses the W-H-W-W-W-W-H note counting rule to identify the scale note positions. This step applies the melodic minor scale note interval pattern starting from A, so that the correct piano keys and note pitches can be identified. So whereas the A natural minor scale has notes F, G for the 6th and 7th notes, these notes are raised to arrive at notes F#, G# for this melodic minor scale. G# is the leading tone of the A melodic minor scaleĪ is the octave of the A melodic minor scaleįor ascending scale notes, the difference between the A melodic minor scale and the A natural minor scale is that the 6th and 7th note positions of the minor scale are raised by one half-tone / semitone. A melodic minor scale degrees Note no.Ī is the tonic of the A melodic minor scaleī is the supertonic of the A melodic minor scaleĬ is the mediant of the A melodic minor scaleĭ is the subdominant of the A melodic minor scaleĮ is the dominant of the A melodic minor scaleį# is the submediant of the A melodic minor scale The stave diagrams above show the scale notes without a key signature, with the sharp / flat adjustments inserted before each note on the staff.įor the key signature of this scale, showing the symbols grouped correctly next to the bass or treble clef symbol at the beginning, have a look at the A melodic minor key signature. These note names are shown below on the treble clef followed by the bass clef.

Middle C (midi note 60) is shown with an orange line under the 2nd note on the piano diagram. The 8th note of the A melodic minor scale is A The 7th note of the A melodic minor scale is G# The 6th note of the A melodic minor scale is F# The 5th note of the A melodic minor scale is E The 4th note of the A melodic minor scale is D The 3rd note of the A melodic minor scale is C The 2nd note of the A melodic minor scale is B The 1st note of the A melodic minor scale is A A melodic minor scale note names Note no. Since the natural minor key is itself on the Circle of 5ths - A minor on circle of 5ths, this means that this is a commonly used melodic minor scale key. This melodic minor scale is based on the natural minor scale with the same key / tonic note - A natural minor scale. It also shows the scale degree names for all 8 notes.

The Ionian Mode or Major scale as it's known to it.This step shows the ascending A melodic minor scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.

Aeolian Mode or The Natural Minor Scale.

In classical composition the scale does have different ascending and descending forms, 1,2,b3,4,5,6,7 going up, 1,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7 going down, but in modern applications applications, in particular jazz, the descending version is omitted. (*That sounded a bit mental when I read it back, so I checked. Melodic Minor does have some lovely modes, that I will waffle about later, including my favourite scale, The Hindu Scale, made famous by Jimmy Page, but the Hindu Scale sheet will follow. I do vaguely remember there being some mention of the melodic minor scale strictly speaking being different in it's ascending and descending forms (Natural minor when descending I think?)* but in it's application particularly by lazy guitarists, these boxes below will do just fine. It's spelt with the intervals: 1,2,b3,4,5,6,7, so depending on how you want to look at it, it's the same as the Major Scales but with a b3, or if you prefer the same as the Natural Minor Scale but with a (major) 6 and 7. Next up in the exciting tour of guitar scales is the Melodic Minor Scale.

Melodic minor scales sheet