Let's demystify the melodic-minor scale (Part 1) | Guitar Tip

Let's demystify the melodic-minor scale (Part 1) | Guitar Tip #106 | By Adam Levy
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[@Hexspa]

A cool trick to get started is its 'doubled' triad pattern: mi - mi - aug - ma - ma - dim - dim. You can put parenthesis to make it clearer: (mi - mi) - aug - (ma - ma) - (dim - dim) The root pattern is the same as major; just with a flat-three instead. Of course, there are variations - the main one being that the last diminished triad is used as an altered dominant instead of as 'superlocrian'. You can also enharmonically invert the augmented triad but that's for later. I just think that getting started like this takes a bit off the 'intimidation factor' since triads are easier than extended chords.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Very, very cool.

[@johnwhittemore7078]

Can you explain this more?

[@Hexspa]

@@johnwhittemore7078 is there a particular part of it that seems unclear or just the whole thing?

[@johnwhittemore7078]

@@Hexspa Thanks for responding! I guess this sentence is whaat confused me. "Of course, there are variations - the main one being that the last diminished triad is used as an altered dominant instead of as 'superlocrian'." Can you say that another way or explain more fully? Thank you!!!

[@Hexspa]

@ Sure. This is pretty standard knowledge, so if I don’t help, you can definitely ask around. Melodic minor has this interval pattern: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 The seventh mode is called Superlocrian or Altered. Same intervals, but enharmonically different. In order: 1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7 1 b9 #9 3 b5 #5 b7 2 and 9 are synonyms. b3 and #9 are the same, b4 and 3 are the same, b6 and #5 are the same. So all that’s happening is you’re taking a weird collection of intervals (like the b4) and renaming them to make more sense to our poor brains. The scale is called Altered because the 9ths and 5ths are flatted and sharped relative to the major scale i.e. “all the possible alterations”. Of course, no rational scale has two ninths and two fifths, but again that’s just to make sense to our monkey brains. Often, thinking of the “textbook classically correct” way is much harder than the “jazz” way: hence the altered scale. It’s just way easier to think “altered dominant” than “locrian with a flatted fourth”. Because, no matter how you slice it, the scale has the aural equivalent of two thirds: three and four half steps above the root. Maybe diminished fourths have their own sound but you could go your whole musical life without ever needing to find out. Hopefully that makes sense. Personally, I think the seventh mode of harmonic minor can benefit from being called “alt6”, but so far no one agrees with me!

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks, Adam! Guitar Player is one of the best magazines ever!!!! Great Lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Very nice approach to Melodic minor! Love the m6 pentatonic as well!

[@georgequinn9087]

Any music teacher that get's Jens Larsen's approval rises far in my opinion as well.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Wow!.. This is absolutely perfect!... I was one of the voices requesting a melodic minor video.. Didn't expect a full series on it!! Your generosity is incredible Adam, thank you so much! Alex :)

[@georgequinn9087]

I grew up listening to my sister's record collection, a mix of 78's and jazz albums. One fave was an Earl Bostic's recording of Earl Hagen's Harlem Nocturne. As it turns out, now that I've learned a little music theory, it was the minor sixths that drew me in.

[@rohw0016]

Your videos are exactly what a guitar player like me needs. Thanks for all the time you've dedicated to helping us with the philosophical approach to the guitar.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Right on, Trevor. I wish you the best.

[@rohw0016]

Adam Levy Guitar Tips I usually go to bed to your videos and wake up and start my day with them. Thanks for the quick reply.. Cheers to a great weekend!

[@snakestrecher]

Thanks adam! You the man, since our lesson I have been focusing on melodic comping and its has been so much fun!

[@thormusique]

Just found your videos. Looks like an excellent series, thanks! Looking forward to exploring the melodic minor.

[@shallyshal1]

just turned on to this site by a friend and fellow guitar player..Wow ! Knowledge distilled and perfected...Thank you so much..Subscribed !!!!! Shally

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Thanks, Shally. Welcome!

[@shallyshal1]

@@AdamLevyGuitar you are a born educator with a real gift for communication..It is going to take me a while to work my way through your large group of video presentations..In the meantime, I believe in supporting those who educate the rest of us goats...It is not easy..If you have a "tip jar" or a way I can compensate you for the gifts of knowledge you provide, I am more than happy to do so.. Or if you sell packages of your materials, please send me a link.. There are those who can do... they are gifted..There are those who can do and who can help others learn to do... they are special..Ted was such a person and he is deeply missed..You are also..Stay healthy ..We lost Ted way too soon...Kindest regards always..Shally

[@Fabianorocknwood]

That major pentatonic minor 3d is awesome for blues too :D It's like an economic Dorian shape, definitely using it now.

[@rockettroll1507]

Thanks for the information. I have been using some of the MM modes for years but never understood them all or their uses. This was very helpful.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Ahh -- cool.

[@harveyfamily123]

Is it not forbidden to play the same melodic minor scale pattern ascending and descending, or is reverting to natural minor on the way down a classical/compositional thing? Thanks, Adam. Really looking forward to this series of tips.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

In jazz, we use the ascending melodic-minor scale in both directions.

[@harveyfamily123]

Fantastic. Thank you!

[@MarkJVSomers]

On all steel string guitars, so acoustic and electric both, I take it.

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

Haven't tried them on my electric guitars, but I'm curious. With nickel wraps, they should take well to magnetism.

[@scottbookman]

very gypsy jazz sounding.

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

I'm not sure why I was taught that Melodic minor scales raise both the sixth and seventh notes one semitone when ascending, and descends like the natural minor scale ... Did I learn something wrong?

[@AdamLevyGuitar]

In classical music, yes. In jazz, no - we use the same scale up and down.

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

Well that explains it ... thanks for the info sir.

[@BobWadeGuitar]

What year is that D-18?