Chromatone logo
Theory
11
Back to main
Melodic minor

A great deal of modern jazz harmony arises from the modes of the ascending form of the melodic minor scale, also known as the jazz melodic minor scale. This scale is essentially a diatonic major scale with a lowered third, for example C–D–E♭–F–G–A–B–C. As with any other scale, the modes are derived from playing the scale from different root notes, causing a series of jazz scales to emerge.

The 7 modes of the Melodic Minor Scale

60000 px/sec
A melodic minor
CDEABF#GbG#Ab
ABCDEF#G#A
1P
2m
2M
3m
3M
4P
TT
5P
6m
6M
7m
7M
101101010101
1P
2M
3m
4P
5P
6M
7M
2-1-2-2-2-2
# 2901
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G#