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MELODIC MINOR SCALE

Following last month’s look at the Harmonic Minor, Simon Barnard explores an alternative scale choice for soloing in a Minor key scenario.
The tune of The Beatles’ Yesterday incorporates the Melodic Minor sound
DOUGLAS ELBINGER / GETTY IMAGES

The Melodic Minor is another great scale choice to use over Minor chords and progressions. It’s not too dissimilar to the Harmonic Minor as it also features a Major 7th interval. However, the challenge with this scale when initially trying to incorporate it into your playing, is getting used to its sound. The Melodic Minor spelt out is 1-2-b3-4-5-6-7, and it’s that 6th interval that supplies its almost Major tonality, and it’s this that can make it sound a little odd when first using it in a Minor scenario.

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Guitar Techniques
November 2024
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