How To Write Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales
In this lesson, we’ll cover the last two minor scale forms: the harmonic minor, and the melodic minor scales. I’m going to treat this music theory lesson, as I did the Natural Minor Scale Lesson : just the facts. That is, I’ll show you how to write these two musical scale forms using the same methods we used for the natural minor scale: the Relative Minor Method and the Parallel Minor Method. Then, in the next lesson, I’m going to show you how all three of these scales operate in an actual piece of music.
Harmonic Minor Scale
Try this experiment. Play a major scale for someone and stop on 
:
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You’ll probably get a response something to the effect of, “Well, finish it!” 
has a strong tendency to resolve to 
, and is called the leading tone, referring to this tendency. The natural minor scale, on the other hand, doesn’t have this tendency because to 
is a whole step. Composers throughout the centuries have traditionally created the tendency in the natural minor scale by raising . The result is the harmonic minor scale:
The following audio example plays a natural minor scale followed by a harmonic minor scale. Pay attention to the differences in sound. Better yet, try singing these scales. In the harmonic minor scale, the tendency of to resolve to is preserved. However, raising it creates an awkward and peculiar sounding augmented 2nd between 
and :
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The Relative Minor Method for Spelling Harmonic Minor Scales
The harmonic minor scale is a natural minor scale with raised by half step, creating a half step between and and an augmented second between 
and .
To write a harmonic minor scale, spell the natural minor scale using the Relative Minor Method outlined in the previous lesson. Then raise of the natural minor scale. As before, raising means doing whatever is necessary to make it a half step higher. If is natural, make it sharp; if it is flat, make it natural; if it is sharp, make it a double-sharp. Here are some examples:
The Parallel Minor Method for Spelling Harmonic Minor Scales
With this method of writing a harmonic minor scale, you begin with a major scale, then lower 
and :
The accidental before the B in the C harmonic minor scale above is there for emphasis and not necessary. However, when using a key signature, you must remember to provide the accidental on to achieve the harmonic minor scale:
Melodic Minor Scale
Traditionally, the melodic minor scale has an ascending form and a descending form. Practically every theory textbook teaches it this way, including my music theory text, Materials of Music. However, in this lesson, I’m going to break with tradition, and not make a distinction between an ascending and descending melodic minor scale for two reasons:
- The descending form of a melodic minor scale is nothing more than a descending natural minor scale.
- There are numerous examples in music literature where the ascending form of the melodic minor scale is descending! (We’ll see some in the next lesson.)
The Relative Minor Method for Spelling Melodic Minor Scales
The melodic minor scale has half steps between 
and 
, and and . It is a natural minor scale with and raised by a half step. Composers use this scale in minor melodies to achieve a smoother melody, since raising removes the augmented second. To write a melodic minor scale, spell the natural minor scale using the Relative Minor Method as usual. Then raise and a half step. As before, this means doing whatever is necessary to make these scale degrees a half step higher.
Now listen to the natural minor scale, followed by a harmonic minor scale, and finally a melodic minor scale. Notice how the melodic minor scale smooths the melodic line by removing the augmented 6th.
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The Parallel Minor Method for Spelling Harmonic Minor Scales
The melodic minor scale is a major scale with a lowered . This makes converting a major scale to a melodic minor easy: start with a major scale, then lower :
And again, when using a key signature, you must use accidentals on and :
Things to Remember
Remember, scales use every letter of the musical alphabet. That’s why certain scales have odd spellings at first glance. For example, G-sharp melodic minor has an E-sharp and F-double sharp:
G harmonic minor scale has a flat followed by a sharp:
The table below summarizes both methods of spelling all forms of the minor scales. Remember, don’t confuse the two methods. Choose the method that is easiest for you when learning the minor scales. If you prefer the Parallel Minor Method, you will discover that there are certain minor scales that don’t have corresponding major scales (e.g., G-sharp minor). When this happens, you will have to resort to the Relative Minor Method. Once you have chosen a method, carefully follow the steps, being sure not to crossover to the other method in the process.
And finally, remember that these lessons are techniques to learn the minor scales, but the goal is to know the minor scales!
Next : The Minor Scales: Bach in Action!
Download a pdf copy of this table.
Download a pdf copy of all of the minor scales.
Download a pdf copy of the circle of fifths chart.
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So the melodic minor scale is the harmonic going up and natural going down…interesting and sort of confusing. THanks,
Hi Christy,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I agree it can be confusing. And remember, these scale forms are derived from actual music. We look at music to see how composers handle minor scales. Be sure to read this post if you haven’t already:
http://music-theory.ascensionsounds.com/the-minor-scales-bach-in-action/
The melodic minor scale going up has scale degrees 6 and 7 raised; the harmonic minor scale has only scale degree 7 raised. So, no, the melodic minor scale is not the harmonic going up. Another way to think about the melodic minor going up: it is a major scale with scale degree 3 lowered. But you’re right, the melodic minor scale is the natural going down.
Hope this helps!
Dear Bob,
There are 3 types of minor scales. How do you chose which type ( natural, harmonic or melodic ) to use in your music eg. when or under what circumstances do I make use of each of them.
siki
Hi Siki,
When you’re writing music, ultimately the answer as to which minor scale form to use is that it’s up to you, the composer. We identify these three forms based on what we see in music. And it’s not always easy to answer why a composer used a certain minor scale form.
However, if you are writing music in a traditional tonal style, you would want to follow traditional practice:
*The harmonic minor scale is used usually over a domiant (V, V7, vii) harmony, and the melodic activity is usually (but not always) an arpeggiation (outlining the chord) of the harmony.
*The natural minor scale occurs over a harmony other than the dominant, and is usually descending.
*The melodic minor, is used over a dominant harmony where the melody is moving by steps.
You will always find exceptions to these principles. What we’re talking about here is general practice, not necessarily “rules.”
Have you read the lesson called “The Minor Scales: Bach in Action?” If not, read it and listen to the examples. It shows how Bach used all three minor scales in a single passage of music. It’s a good demonstration of how and when to use the different minor scale forms in a traditional setting.
Of course in music outside of a traditional style, as I said, you should use the scale that achieves the sound that you want. A while back I wrote an orchestra piece that uses almost exclusively the melodic minor scale. You can listen to it and see the score here.
Hope this helps
Muito bom!teoria como essas nos ajudam muito para o nosso desenvolvimento.
Abraços!
Arnaldo.
Hey there
Ok 1 question. When i write a melodic minor scale withuot using a key signature before it, do i need to write the the natural sings? or do i just leave it alone without the natural sign?
You do not need a natural sign before a note if there is no key signature. If, however, that same note has been raised or lowered (with an accidental) previously in the same measure, then yes, you would need a natural sign to cancel the previous accidental. You can review how to use accidentals the music theory lesson.