Robben Ford Discussion

[avinaash_m]

Hi All!!

Just read the very interresting posts on the use of the Melodic Minor scale in a classic blues progression.
What still confuses me is that I read somewhere (in David Mead's 'Chords and Scales for Guitarits') that there were in fact 2 types of melodic minor scale.
Namely the descending one and the ascending one.
Which one do you guys use in a classic blues progression?

Can anyone post shapes of these scales? I tried improvising with them, but they really didn't work (still got a lot to learn!!! haha).

Cheers,

Avi

[UncleSalty]

In traditional classical theory, the descending form of the melodic minor is the same as the natural minor or aeolian mode. In jazz, the same spelling is used both ascending & descending.

[Mitch Fynn]

Copied this from a site, my first hit on google
I adapted it here and there. My two bits:
The Melodic minor has different notes depending if you go upwards or downwards on the scale.
Altough people speak of two scales it's not entirely correct because if you play a melodic minor there are not two scales you can pick from but two sets of notes depending if you are going upwards or downwards on the scale!
Going up in tone you'd use the notes from the ascending 'form'
and going down in tone you'd use the tones found in the descending form.
E Melodic Minor -which is 1 scale!- looks like this (here comes the quote:)

[Rob MacKillop]

Avi,

Life is complicated enough already without having rising and falling variations on a scale. Try the following.

Blues in A

Over A7 - play D Major scale starting on A (called A Mixolydian)
Over D7 - Play G Major scale starting on D (called D Mixolydian)
Over E7 - play F melodic minor starting on E (called the Superlocrian Mode or Altered Scale)

The notes of the F melodic minor scale are:
E F G Ab Bb C D

------------------------------------------6--8-
----------------------------5--6--8--9--------
---------------------5--7------------------
----------5--6--8--------------------------
---7--8------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------

Hope this helps. More on my website: www.rmguitar.info

Rob
_________________
www.rmguitar.info

[JackD]

Check out Don Mock's book on melodic minor--it's everything you ever needed to know about melodic minor and its application

[Rob MacKillop]

I've just noticed a mistake in my tablature - and have now edited it. I missed out the ninth fret on the second string. I hope I haven't ruined your entire music career

Rob
_________________
www.rmguitar.info

[Budda]

Here's a "Quick And Dirty" Melodic Minor sound:

Try playing a Minor Pentatonic scale, off of the b3rd. of a Dominant Chord.

EX: Over D7, try playing Fm Pentatonic.

D7 = D F# A C (E G B)

Fm Pent. = F Ab Bb C Eb F

What I realized, was the differences between D Dominant (Mixolydian), and Eb Melodic Minor.

Since playing Mel. Min. a 1/2 step above the V chord, is a common use for this scale, I just looked for the differences between the "proper" scale/arpeggio (Mixolydian/13th. chord), and the Mel. Min. a 1/2 step up.

Eb Melodic Minor = Eb F Gb Ab Bb C D Eb
D Mixolydian = D E F# G A B C D

So, the only real differences are Eb F Ab Bb

(The Gb is an Enharmonic Equivilent to F#)

Fm Pentatonic contains these new "Tensions", plus one more "Consonant" note, the C, in a very comfortable and familiar setting.

Fm Pent. = F Ab Bb C Eb F



Anyway, if any of you guys decide to give it a try, let me know how it worked for you.

[Sampo]