Editing Minor scale (section)

==Melodic minor scale==
{{further|Jazz minor scale}}
===Construction===
The distinctive sound of the harmonic minor scale comes from the [[augmented second]] between its sixth and seventh scale degrees. While some composers have used this interval to advantage in melodic composition, others felt it to be an awkward leap, particularly in [[vocal music]], and preferred a [[whole step]] between these scale degrees for smooth melody writing. To eliminate the augmented second, these composers either raised the sixth degree by a [[semitone]] or lowered the seventh by a semitone.

The '''melodic minor scale''' is formed by using ''both'' of these solutions. In particular, the raised sixth appears in the ascending form of the scale, while the lowered seventh appears in the descending form of the scale. Traditionally, these two forms are referred to as:
* the ''ascending melodic minor scale'' or [[jazz minor scale]] (also known as the Ionian {{music|flat}}3 or Dorian {{music|natural}}7): this form of the scale is also the 5th mode of the [[acoustic scale]].
* the ''descending melodic minor scale'': this form is identical to the natural minor scale .
The ascending and descending forms of the A melodic minor scale are shown below:

:<score sound="1"> {
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f\relative c' {
  \clef treble \time 7/4 \hide Staff.TimeSignature
  \override Voice.TextScript.font-size = #-2
  a4^\markup { Ascending melodic minor } b c d e fis gis
  a^\markup { Descending melodic minor } g! f! e d c b a2 }
}

</score>
The ascending melodic minor scale can be notated as

: 1, 2, {{music|b}}3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

while the descending melodic minor scale is

: 8, {{music|b}}7, {{music|b}}6, 5, 4, {{music|b}}3, 2, 1

Using these notations, the two melodic minor scales can be built by altering the parallel major scale.

===Intervals===
The intervals between the notes of an ascending melodic minor scale follow the sequence below:
: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, whole, half

The intervals between the notes of a descending melodic minor scale are the same as those of a descending natural minor scale.

===Uses===
{{Image frame
|content = <score sound="1">
    \relative c''' {
        \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"violin"
        \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 120
        \key g \dorian
        \time 4/4
        g8^\markup \bold "Allegro"
        f16 es d c bes a g a bes c d e fis g
        fis8[ d]
    }
</score>
|caption = Theme in G melodic minor from the opening of the second concerto in [[Antonio Vivaldi|Vivaldi]]'s ''[[L'estro armonico]]'' (1711)<ref name=Forte /> Although the piece is in G minor, the key signature is for G [[Dorian mode|Dorian]] (one flat). By convention, in modern notation (and for tonal music written since the [[common-practice period]]), key signatures are typically only based on a major ([[Ionian mode]]) or minor (natural minor or [[Aeolian mode]]) key, not on modes like the Dorian mode.
|width = 420
}}

Composers have not been consistent in using the two forms of the melodic minor scale. Composers frequently require the lowered 7th degree found in the natural minor in order to avoid the augmented triad (III{{music|aug}}) that arises in the ascending form of the scale.

Examples of the use of melodic minor in [[rock music|rock]] and [[popular music]] include [[Elton John]]'s "[[Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word]]", which makes, "a nod to the common practice... by the use of F{{music|#}} [the [[Leading-tone|leading tone]] in G minor] as the penultimate note of the final [[cadence]]."<ref>{{cite book|last=Stephenson|first=Ken|year=2002|title=What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis|page=41|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300128239}}</ref> [[The Beatles]]' "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]" also partly uses the melodic minor scale.{{cn|date=February 2022}}