Here’s a lesson on the Melodic Minor for you. First, check out the track below (you can download it too). Then have a look over the TAB/notation below [download it here]
The solo uses the G Melodic Minor scale: G A Bb C D E F# G. Re-arranging that lot in this order – G Bb D F# A C E [1 b3 5 7 9 11 13] – gives you the basic harmony for the scale: Gm(maj7) with possible extensions: 9, 11 and 13.
Ok, that’s what it is. If that sounds like rocket science, then I’m happy to tell you that I’ve made a video course that explains it all simply, shows you exactly what to do to make those sounds, and how to apply them to the tunes that you play.
And the sounds from the melodic minor are bloody fantastic.
Check out the course: Unlocking The Melodic Minor Modes over at Electric Campfire.
It’s a video course where we look at each mode individually. You’ll learn how to play the modes, where to use them, some beautiful voicings that give you the flavour of each mode, the theory, examples of the harmony from tunes, and more. Also, in the videos I show you step-by-step how to play these examples.
Great study, Mike! Thanks for sharing here, I really like the site redesign too.
Thanks, John. There will be more. Glad you like the site redesign too!
have you seen that don mock mel. minor book? he treats the mel minor as just an altered scale over dom7 chords. eg;
A7b5 play mel min up a 5th (E mel minor gives you 5, 13, b7, 1, 9, 3, b5)
A7#5 play mel min up 4th (D mel min 11th, 5, #5, b7, 1, 9, 3)
there’s the jazz minor up 1/2 step
and over a half dim v7 its nice to play the mel min down a whole step from the v7 ie Em7b5 to A7 play G mel minor.
its good to mix things up say you’re playing A7b5 you can play a jazz minor lick (ie 1/2 step up)and then repeat the lick in E mel minor (so its still a b5 sound), that’s if your head doesnt explode first(!)
Haven’t seen the Don Mock book. I’ll be covering some uses of the other modes as the series progresses. Hope they’ll be of some use, and hope your head won’t explode :) M
Hi Woody. that’s the SuperLocrian mode. I use it over 7#9 chords quite a lot. I’m sure Mike will do a decent example of this but just as a point I combine the melodic minor (superLocrian) with the octatonic (diminished) scale and a bit of whole tone too. Head has just exploded….