When the melodic minor scale descends it is the same as a harmonic minor scale?

The harmonic minor scale is derivative of the minor scale where the seventh scale degree is raised by a half step. The melodic minor scale is a minor scale with raised sixth and seventh scale degrees, but only when ascending. A descending melodic minor scale is identical to a natural minor scale.

How do you perform a descending melodic minor scale?

When ascending, the melodic minor’s formula is: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7, and when descending, the melodic minor’s formula is the same as the natural minor’s formula: 7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1. Essentially, the melodic minor is a combination of the minor scale and the major scale, much more so than the harmonic minor scale.

What note is changed when you play a harmonic minor scale?

In the Harmonic Minor scale, the next to the last note, or the 7th tone of the scale is raised a half step. This will be true any time you play a Harmonic Minor Scale…you will play it just like the Natural Minor except you will raise the 7th tone a half step… going up and coming back down; both ways are the same.

How does the ascending E melodic minor scale differ from the descending E melodic minor scale?

For ascending scale notes, the difference between the E melodic minor scale and the E natural minor scale is that the 6th and 7th note positions of the minor scale are raised by one half-tone / semitone.

Why is harmonic minor called harmonic?

The scale is called the harmonic minor scale because it is a common foundation for harmonies (chords) in minor keys. For example, in the key of A minor, the dominant (V) chord (the triad built on the 5th scale degree, E) is a minor triad in the natural minor scale.

What is function of melodic minor scale?

Another important minor scale to discuss is the melodic minor scale. The melodic minor scale, like harmonic minor, also has a raised 7th compared to natural minor. This raised 7th , just as in the harmonic minor scale, gives us a major triad or dominant 7th V chord in a minor key.

What is the harmonic minor scale used for?

The harmonic minor scale is often used in neo-classical, gypsy and jazz music. But also rock guitar players like to step outside of the pentatonic or minor scale now and then and add this kind of middle eastern sound to their solos to keep things interesting.

Why is melodic minor different descending?

The reason why the ascending form of the melodic minor scale differs from its descending form is because the natural major and melodic minor scales are identical in their upper tetrachords. The relationship between both scales makes it possible for the melodic minor scale to be derived from the major scale.

Why do we have melodic and harmonic minor scales?

So in conclusion, the harmonic minor scale is used to give us access to the dominant chords typically used to establish the key, and the melodic minor scale is used to smooth out the melody when the 6th and 7th degrees of the scale are used.

Why do we use harmonic minor?

The harmonic minor is perfect for generating hip II-V-I lines because it has the b9 and b13 of the V7 chord embedded in it and it allows you to simplify the entire II-V-I into one single reductive scale. It works over all three chords and has a strong sense of tonality and unity.