Bellingham music teachers association scale and arpeggio fingering chart for piano major and minor scales and arpeggios two octaves chromatic scale. To construct or perform this type of scale, you need to remember that it has an ascending version along with a descending version. In other words, several other scales come from the melodic scale. It also shows the scale degree names for all 8 notes. Today we are focusing on the c sharp minor melodic scale.
Contrary to the major scale, there are not one but three minor scales, which all will be presented here. But in jazz, we play the true melodic minor scale both up and down, and call it the jazz melodic minor scale. Melodic minor harmony tom lippincott r traditionally, in classical music, the melodic minor scale is performed one way ascending. Early classical musician used it ascending and pure minor descending but jazz musicians use it both ways. Minor scales are built on the 6th scale degree of a major scale. This article focuses on a very popular but certainly very strange sounding scale, the melodic minor, and how we can figure out some chords to play behind our rockin. Melodic minor scales sheet music for piano download free in. Join pianogroove pro to access all downloads and learning resources. Natural, harmonic, and melodic forms margaret denton, piano minor scales. Each minor scale has a different use and application in jazz piano and so learning how to construct and apply each one is a vital skill. Barbara murphy university of tennessee school of music major and minor scales half and whole steps. Learning the melodic minor scale simplifying theory. However, you can unlock the sound of each and every scale by learning to use what chords to use them over. Learn how to play the c minor melodic piano scale piano.
Melodic minor scales in 1 octave with up to 2 sharps, including note names, fingering and a musicscores theory sheet how to make up a melodic minor scale. This is a really unique sound using the melodic minor scale and because v7 chords are everywhere, there are endless opportunities to use this sound. Remember, the melodic minor is only used on the ascending scale. This scale is also some kind of peculiar since it is sometimes played differently ascending and descending. The melodic minor scale differs from the diatonic scale in that its third note is a minor third interval from the first note of the scale. We provide downloads for common scales including major, the three minor scales natural, harmonic, and melodic, the blues scale, and others.
Print and download in pdf or midi melodic minor scales. Insidepiano video tutorials jazz improvisation minor scales. You need to understand something right away to be a piano or keyboard player. Jan 11, 2018 we make great jazzy sound with the melodic minor modes. We locate and order all the 7 modes in a simple circular system. This video talks about how to improvise on the piano over minor chord progressions. Natural, harmonic and melodic forms about minor scales.
All the scales here are in one octave, but you can of course practice each piano scale in as many octaves and in any tempo you like. We already studied the harmonic minor scale and we saw that it has a long distance between 6 and 7 degrees one and a half tone. Single octave melodic minor scales with fingerings for piano. Melodic minor scales jyttes piano sheet collection. Learn how to play the c sharp minor melodic piano scale.
Each scale has a different use and application in jazz piano. To create a natural minor scale, start on the tonic note10 and. That means that this scale creates a minor chord as its first chord tonic. You can see from the sheet music below how the 7th. These additional types of minor scales are used when composers wish to utilize minor keys in a melody and in a harmony. List of all natural minor scales there are 12 natural minor scales. Learning how to play all the scales on the piano is a good way to improve your piano playing.
Many students find it easiest to begin with a major scale and use that major scale as a. Each scale is provided as a separate pdf download with finger numbers above each note. Like major scales, minor scales have eight notes, with the top and bottom tonic notes. The associated chord is the cmmaj7 chord which is not found in major scale harmony. It is important to remember that the harmonic and melodic minor scales are only altered minor scales. The scale in all keys can be downloaded as a pdf file.
This step shows the ascending e melodic minor scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. Ideally, you should try playing the minor scales on a piano or keyboard to get used to the sound and feel of them. Harmonic minor scale and chords, natural and melodic minor. When coming down the scale you use the natural minor. Minor scales cheat sheet harmonic minor raise the 7 th scale degree melodic minor raise the 6 th and 7 th scale degree ascending, revert to. All keys are shown, including the commonly used 12 keys of the circle of fifths diagram, and other theoretical ie. The first mode of the melodic minor scale isthe melodic minor scale. To get the melodic minor scale you would raise both the 6 th and 7 scales degrees up one halfstep. The melodic minor scale uses the same keys as the parallel major scale, but lowers the 3rd when ascending going up and lowers both the 7th, 6th and third going down. Classical guitar melodic minor scales please visit. The melodic minor has the same notes as a major scale with a flat 3rd. The natural minor scale is often referred to simply as the minor scale. The main scales of western music are major and minor scales. Melodic minor is a parent scale see below the reason you need to learn the melodic major scale is because is a parent scale to other scales.
The melodic minor scale differs from the natural minor scale by the sixth and seventh notes. This scale can sometimes confuse people because it is in a way identical to the major scale. Natural, harmonic, and melodic minor music theory online. We make great jazzy sound with the melodic minor modes. The jazz minor and bebop scales and modifying them to stabilize them. Hopefully this lesson has helped you understand the 3 different minor scales. Melodic minor scales sheet music for piano download free in pdf. Natural minor is only one of the three types of minor scales. Its important to note that the harmonic and melodic minor are variations of the natural minor scale, and so understanding how to harmonize the natural minor scale with 7th chords is the place to start. With a goal of reducing this distance, it was added an intermediate note to approximate the sixth degree from the seventh. Say we were to play the c melodic minor scale, but we started on a d instead of a c. Apr 06, 2016 in our article relative and parallel minor, we explained the often confusing terms that are associated with the minor scale. Melodic minor scale on the piano sean wilson piano. Remember that for the melodic minor scale, when descending, you play the natural minor scale.
In order to build an a harmonic minor scale we simply play the natural minor scale, but raise the 7th note. The chart below shows how the melodic minor scale compares with the natural minor and major scale diatonic scale. This is where the melodic minor scale comes in handy. This selection and arrangement of content as a collection is ed by terry. Heres a diagram of the melodic g minor scale on piano. To be able to sustain playing a scale up and down the piano. List of all natural minor scales piano music theory.
Feb 19, 2012 you might find that the harmonic minor scale is a bit angular at the top of the scale to write smooth melodies. When you go up the scale, you are using the melodic minor scale, but. Minor scales are no less important or smaller in size than major scales. Fortify minor melodic scales concept with this colorful 1 page printable. How to harmonize minor scales with 7th chords learn jazz. Every scale determines a key,that is an harmonic combunation of tones based on that scale. We call scales relative if they share the same key signature. The natural minor scale uses the same keys as the parallel major scale, but lowers the 3rd, 6th and 7th steps. These make great handouts for piano teachers to use with students.
In the example below, study the prepared example beginning on the note c. The harmonic minor scale has a raised 7th scale degree compared to the natural minor. Melodic minor scale is really similar to the harmonic minor scale. In classical music, you play the true melodic minor scale ascending and the natural minor scale descending. Each minor scale has a di erent use and application in jazz piano and so learning how to construct and apply each one is an important skill. Melodic minor scales charts with fingering for piano. There are also harmonic minor and melodic minor scales. Playing scales on piano has the added benefit of encouraging visual memory. Learn the melodic minor scale for piano in every key. Watch the video, then download the free printable pdf sheet music to use at your piano. We use the scales to improvise jazz over the iivi chord progression. There are three types of minor scales and we shall take a look at all of them here. Printable piano music scales in all major and harmonic minor keys.