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Can someone explain to be What Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor scales are?


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Posted

A natural minor:

A B C D E F G A

 

A harmonic minor:

A B C D E F G# A

 

A melodic minor:

A B C D E F# G# A

 

 

Take A natural minor and raise the 7th a half step and you have A harmonic minor. Raise the 6th a half step as well and you have A melodic minor.

 

Another way of looking at melodic minor:

 

C major:

C D E F G A B C

 

C melodic minor:

C D Eb F G A B C

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Posted

I also like to look at each scale as numbers.

 

Natural Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

 

Harmonic Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1

 

Melodic Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1 (ascending)

1 b7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1(decending, if memory serves)

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Posted

 

Originally posted by bdemon

I also like to look at each scale as numbers.


Natural Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1


Harmonic Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1


Melodic Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1 (ascending)

1 b7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1(decending, if memory serves)

 

 

Ignore the descending version of Melodic minor. It's not relevant for anything in the last 100 years. It's definitely a source of confusion for younger players though. For jazz, fusion or pop music you don't need to worry about it though.

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