Piano Scales...Melodic and Harmonic MinorTo form melodic minor piano scales simply lower the 3rd tone (note) of a major scale a half step. This would give you the following sequence of whole steps and half steps; whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. So, a C melodic minor scale would be comprised of the tones (notes) C, D, D#/Eb, F, G, A, B, C (octave).These tones (notes) would be played ascending (going up from low to high) the piano keyboard. Melodic minor scales differ from other minor scales in that you play a natural minor scale decending (going down from high to low) the piano keyboard. This would make the tones (notes) decending (going down) a C, A#/Bb, G#/Ab, G, F, D#/Eb, D, and ending on the C tone (note) you began on. 
Lets take a look at our piano keyboard graphic and count the whole steps and half steps in a C melodic minor piano scale ascending (going up the keyboard from C to octave C). C to D is a whole step, D to D#/Eb is a half step (no tones (notes) in between), D#/Eb to F is a whole step (half step down to E and then on to F) F to G is a whole step, G to A is a whole step, A to B is a whole step and we finish the melodic minor piano scale ascending with B to octave C, half step (no tone (note) between these two keys). As noted above, you will play the natural minor scale decending (going down from high C to the beginning lower C). If you have not already reviewed the rules for the construction of natural minor scales you can click here or the link below and see the series of whole steps and half steps used in their formation. One more melodic minor scale this time beginning on C#/Db. The tones (notes) would be; C#/Db, D#/Eb, E, F#/Gb, G#/Ab, A#/Bb, C, and C#/Db (octave). C#/Db to D#/Eb is a whole step, D#/Eb to E is a half step (stepping up from the black tone (note) to the white key immediately adjacent which is E), E to F#/Gb is a whole step (E to F is a half step so going up to F#/Gb makes a whole step), F#/Gb to G#/Ab is a whole step, G#/Ab to A#/Bb is a whole step, A#/Bb to C is a whole step (no black key between B and C), and we finish the C#/Db melodic minor piano scale ascending (gong from low tone (note) to octave higher tone) with C to C#/Db octave, half step. Again as already mentioned you would play the natural minor scale decending (going down from high C#/Db to the lower beginning C#/Db). By using these rules you can now construct a melodic minor scale from any point (key) on the piano keyboard. If you would like to see the melodic minor scales in all 12 keys click on minor scales and you will be transported to Chordhouse.com's "virtual piano keyboard". Just pick a key (C, D, F#/Gb, etc) and click melodic minor scale and the notes will appear on the keyboard. You will notice that they have included both the ascending (going up) and descending (coming back down) melodic minor piano scales. When you are finished close the window and you will be brought back here. Practice these scales with both hands until you can move smoothly (not necessarily quickly) from beginning to end and back again in all 12 keys. When you practice your scales, I want you to use the fingering technique I have outlined here, scale fingering technique. This technique works with major and minor piano scales and will help with your finger dexterity and control. So get to it and practice those melodic minor scales! Piano Scales-Harmonic Minor
If you look at our piano keyboard graphic and use the C harmonic minor scale example you get the following sequence of whole steps and half steps. C to D is a whole step, D to D#/Eb is a half step (moving to the next key with no keys in between), D#/Eb to F is a whole step (there are no keys between E and F so this is a half step), F to G is a whole step, G to G#/Ab is a half step (moving from the black key to the white key immediately adjacent (next) to G#/Ab), G#/Ab to B is our whole step plus another half step (one and a half steps), and we finish the C harmonic minor piano scale with B to C octave, half step. Lets do another example this time beginning with A#/Bb. The tones (notes) would be; A#/Bb, C, C#/Db, D#/Eb, F, F#/Gb, A, A#/Bb (octave). A#/Bb to C is a whole step (remember from B to C is a half step because their is no key between them), C to C#/Db is a half step (moving to the immediately adjacent key to C), C#/Db to D#/Eb is a whole step, D#/Eb to F is a whole step (E to F is a half step because their is no key between them), F to F#/Gb is a half step (moving from the white key to the black key immediately adjacent (next) to F), F#/Gb to A is our whole step plus another half step (one and a half steps), and we finish the A#/Bb harmonic minor piano scale with A to A#/Bb octave, half step. By using these rules you can now construct a harmonic minor scale from any point (key) on the piano keyboard. If you would like to see these scales in all 12 keys click on harmonic minor scales and you will be transported to Chordhouse.com's "virtual piano keyboard". Just pick a key (C, D, F#/Gb, etc) and click harmonic minor scale and the notes will appear on the keyboard. When you are finished close the window and you will be brought back here. Practice these scales with both hands until you can move smoothly (not necessarily quickly) from beginning to end and back again in all 12 keys. When you practice your scales, I want you to use the fingering technique I have outlined here, scale fingering technique. This technique works with major and minor piano scales and will help with your finger dexterity and control. So get to it and practice those harmonic minor scales! |