Melodic Minor Scale? That's a must know in jazz.

Because of this, the lesson covers all the theory, fingering and licks you need to know to gain confidence with the scale.

To get the most value from this class make sure that you are comfortable with:

  • The Major Scale
  • The Harmonic Minor Scale
  • Chord Tones
  • Arpeggios
  • 3-9 Arpeggios

The melodic minor is a seven note minor scale which you can use to improvise over minor 7th chords.

You might have heard that the melodic minor scale changes its formula when descending.

However, that's not the melodic minor scale that we use in jazz.

That melodic minor is used in classical music.

Therefore, jazz musicians sometimes refer to the scale as the jazz minor to avoid any confusion between the two scales.

The formula below shows the intervals and notes in the key of C:

MS Intervals: R, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, #7

MMS Note Names: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B

So, there is only one note difference between the Dorian scale and the melodic minor.

Can you see which note is different?

The seventh.

As a result, you can raise the sevenths in each of your Dorian scales to produce melodic minor fingerings.

dorian and melodic minor scale shapes for guitar

Two Octave Melodic Minor Scales

Learn two scale positions to get strarted with the Melodic Minor.

First, one two-octave scale position with the root on the 6th string.

Secondly, one two-octave scale with the root on the 5th string.

Once you can fluently play both, practice the scale in all 12 keys.

melodic mninor scale fingerings

You can practice the scale in all 12 keys by playing the scale in fourths as shown in the example below.

Make sure to also start the same exercise on B (7th fret, 6th string) to ensure you cover the entire guitar neck.

melodic minor scale in fourths

Melodic Minor Application

The melodic minor contains a raised seventh, hence the scale's more "biting" sound.

As you probably know minor 7th chords contain the flat seventh.

Firstly, you can try using the raised seventh on the off beats.

For example, the line below starts on the raised seventh on the and of beat four.

Non-diatonic chord tones will almost always work on off beats.

Try creating your own lines using the melodic minor scale in this way.

eighth note line demonstrating syncopation

Here is another line that uses the same idea for you to look at.

Note that this line also has a flattend seventh.

eighth note line demonstrating the melodic minor shape

Arpeggio

Within the melodic minor there is an arpeggio that you can use to quickly access the scale sound without playing the full scale.

The arpeggio is a 3-9 arpeggio.

So, the melodic minor example intervals are the b3, 5, 7 and 9.

These four notes capture the sound of the scale instantly.

four note shape from melodic minor

Here is a line that demonstrates how you can use these four notes to create a musical idea.

arpeggio pattern using melodic minor shape

This example shows how you can use the raised seventh on a down beat if the melodic idea is strong.

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arpeggio pattern over a minor 7th chord

Blue Bossa Solo

Finally, here an etude of the jazz standard Blue Bossa to conclude our melodic minor study.

The solo uses the melodic minor, harmonic minor and major scale.

For example, the minor ii-V-I in bars 5, 6 and 7 is outlined using the C harmonic minor scale.

The melodic minor scale is used exclusively over the first four bars.

Can you see any of the rhythmic or harmonic techniques discussed used in this example?

Once you can play the solo, try to use the melodic minor scale in your own improvisation.

Here is a link to a Blue Bossa backing track that you can use to practice.

Blue Bossa etude

Next check out the Altered Scale and the Lydian Dominant.

Both of these are modes from the melodic minor scale that you can tackle after the melodic minor.

What do you think of this scale?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.