Home Row Scales Part 3: Major to Melodic Minor

This is Part 3 of my Home Row Scales Series.

In today’s lesson we will change the Major Scale (in the 4th position) to a Melodic Minor Scale.

A Major = A B C# D E F# G# A

We make an A Melodic Minor Scale by lowering the 3rd scale degree (C#) down a half-step to the note (C).

A Melodic Minor = A B C D E F# G# A

The melodic minor scale is used over chords like A-Maj7 (minor major 7). This chord shows up in songs like My Funny Valentine. The Melodic Minor Scale also produces Augmented Chords (C+ (augmented) and its inversions which could be seen as E+, G#+) and Diminished Chords (F#dim, G#dim). Practice the scale using the “3 Things Method”.