Minor Variants
Melodic Minor Scale
Raises both the 6th and 7th degrees of natural minor when ascending. Beloved in jazz for its unique modal system.
Hear the Melodic Minor Scale
How to Identify It
Similar to major but with a minor 3rd. In jazz it's used ascending only — giving a smooth, slightly ambiguous quality. More 'inside' than harmonic minor.
Famous Examples
- Jazz melody lines — standard repertoire
- Classical ascending minor passages
- Fly Me to the Moon — melodic minor passages
Melodic Minor in All 12 Keys
Often Confused With
About the Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale is a minor variants scale built from the interval pattern 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1 (in whole and half steps). Raises both the 6th and 7th degrees of natural minor when ascending. Beloved in jazz for its unique modal system.
To recognise the melodic minor scale reliably by ear, focus on its characteristic mood — smooth, jazzy, ambiguous, sophisticated. Use the player above to hear it in all 12 keys, and the recognition trainer to test yourself against a mixed set of scales.