The modes provide us with easy starting points/roots/1's that make it easy to build chords on each of the notes of the Melodic Minor Scale. The modes of the Melodic Minor Scale are as follows: A mode's scale degrees are in reference to its new starting point. So the first mode of the Melodic Minor Scale is built on the first note (therefore it's the same), and the second mode of the scale is built on the second note, and so on so forth.

This makes it easy to identify the third, fifth, seventh, and extensions.Įach mode is built starting on a different scale degree of the Scale itself. I find it easier to build chords when looking at modes because the scale degrees are referenced to a new root. To better build chords out of the Melodic Minor, I'll write its modes. The “Classical” Melodic Minor is one scale ascending (the real Melodic Minor) and a different scale descending (the natural minor or 6th mode of the Major Scale). This means that we're using it as a single scale. I'll add here that we'll be discussing the Melodic Minor in the “Jazz” sense versus a “Classical” sense. But it changes the scale's harmony up quite a bit, resulting in different chords than the major scale. This one-note difference may not seem like a big deal. Major has a major third, while Melodic Minor has a minor third.

The only difference between the Melodic Minor Scale and the Major Scale is the third scale degree. Or, Alternatively by the following intervals: The Melodic Minor Scale is defined by the following scale degrees: This article will offer some important “triads” and seventh chords of the Melodic Minor Scale and how we build those chords!įirst, Let's Define The Melodic Minor Scale And that practicality shows up in soloing, composition, and general thinking of chord-scale relationships. Learning the chords of the Melodic Minor will also aid tremendously in the practical application of the scale. Well, it wouldn't be considered “functional harmony,” but the chord progressions would certainly sound interesting. But what happens if we build chords based upon the Melodic Minor Scale? This creates strong and common chord progressions.

When thinking diatonically in functional harmony, we harmonize and build chords based on the Diatonic Scale (Major Scale and its modes).

Darkest harmonic minor scale formula