Melodic Minor Scale - Guitar Session 3

Like the Harmonic Minor Scale, the Melodic minor scale is derived by altering the Natural minor scale. In the last session we looked at the Harmonic minor scale with the 7th note raised (sharpened) a halfstep. The Melodic minor scale is the Natural minor scale with the exception of the 6th & 7th notes raised (sharpened) a halfstep. The notes in the Melodic (A) minor scale, which we will be working with in this session is as follows.

Below is what I call a scales chart key. On the scale charts themselves, you wiil see these suggested fingering symbols for the notes played in the scale.

O = Open string played
= Index Finger
=Middle Finger
=Ring Finger
=Little Finger
Strings that are played open will be marked with "O" on top of the scale diagram.

Guitar scale chart #1 displays the Melodic A minor scale in the 1st position on the guitar. The scale starts out with the open string "A" the rootnote, and runs 2 octaves higher to the octave rootnote "A" on the 5th fret, 1st string.

Guitar scale chart #2 shows the Melodic A minor scale in the 1st position on the guitar,displaying 2 octaves of the scale. But this time the scale pattern is moving from the 1st position to the 5th position on the guitar.

Guitar scale chart #3 displays the Melodic A minor scale in the 5th position on the guitar. Beginning with the rootnote "A" on the 5th fret, 6th string and ascending the scale 2 octaves across the fretboard to the octave rootnote "A" on the 5th fret, 1st string of the guitar.

Guitar scale chart #4 shows the Melodic A minor scale starting out in the 5th position on the guitar, and running 2 octaves higher to the octave rootnote "A" on the 10th fret 2nd string of the guitar.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier Guitar Scales sessions, I display the guitar scales in the fashion of charts 2 & 4, so the beginning guitarist gets familiar with moving around on the guitar fretboard.

Also I wanted to mention, in some scales you come across the stretch between the notes can be farther then your fingers can reach, so instead of trying to stretch your finger to reach the note, practice moving your hand to get your finger to the note.

For instance in guitar scale chart #4, in the 1st octave of the scale from the "E note" on the 7th fret, 5th string to the "F sharp note" on the 9th fret, 5th string. Thats a far stretch using the fingers shown, move your hand up the neck to play the F sharp note with your little finger. As it will take practice to do this, but in time you'll find your fingers more flexible and your hand more agile for moving around the guitar fretboard