BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
7743 / 18210 · Workshop 61 — Melodic Minor as a Practical Color System: Altered Dominants, Lydian Dominant, Minor-Major Harmony, Locrian ♮2, and Choosing Tension by Destination← prev⊞ allnext →

61.2Compare the three common minor scales

C natural minor / Aeolian

C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭

C harmonic minor

C D E♭ F G A♭ B

C melodic minor

C D E♭ F G A B

The important difference is degrees 6 and 7.

Natural minor: ♭6, ♭7.

Harmonic minor: ♭6, 7.

Melodic minor: 6, 7.