subject: Guitar Lesson -- The Harmonic And Melodic Minor Scales [print this page] The most basic minor scale there is is the natural minor scale. But there are others. Two of them are called the harmonic and melodic minor.
Harmonic and melodic minor scales actually come from the natural minor scale. They provide more color to your lead playing, and are easy to learn.
Let's go over the natural minor first. This scale comes from the 6th tone of a major scale.
Here's the C major scale:
C D E F G A B C
The 6th tone of this scale (A), gives us the starting point for the A natural minor. Am is also called the relative minor of C, and C is the relative major of Am. This relationship always comes from the 6th tone of a major scale.
A B C D E F G A
The definition of a harmonic minor scale is the natural minor with the 7th tone raised 1/2 step:
A B C D E F G# A
Keep in mind here that the key of Am has the same key signature (how many sharps or flats) as its relative major, which is C. In music notation (notes on a staff), the G# is shown as an "accidental". It's called an accidental because it is an "accident" to the natural key.
The melodic minor has different rules depending on whether you are going up or down the scale.
Going up, or ascending, this scale has the 6th and 7th tones raised 1/2 step:
A B C D E F# G# A
What makes this scale interesting is what happens when we go down the scale (descending):
A G# F E D C B A
On the way down, only the 7th tone is raised.
So one could say that a melodic minor is just like a harmonic minor except for the additional raising of the 6th tone if you playing it ascending.
Try constructing these scales from all major keys. On your guitar, make the appropriate adjustments to the 6th and.or 7th tones.
Here's an example:
Am natural scale (root notes in bold). All of these scales are really played in the 5th position. Your 1st finger needs to stretch up the neck temporarily to reach any notes on the 4th fret.
Remember to revert back to the harmonic minor scale on the way back down.
Now here's the thing. This is the strict definition of the melodic minor scale. A lot of guitarists also play the melodic minor scale the same way descending as they play it ascending. If it's good for them, it's good for you too. Try it both ways. Think of it as just a different color of the scale. Just remember what the real definition is.
