Minor Scales

Hi there, sometimes I have some trouble soloing in the minor key. The Pentatonics seem to always work, but i'd also like to use the diatonic modes. Now i know that there is the natural minor, harmonic, and melodic scales. I seem to have trouble figuring out when to use which. natural minor usually works, but are there certain chord progressions where specific ones of these three will or wont work? Is there a reason that there is only one "major scale" but there are three for the minor. Thanks a lot.

Any scale can be considered a minor scale as long as it has the minor third interval. The three most common are natural minor, dorian, and phrygian. These are modes of the major scale. Locrian is also a minor scale, but you don't hear it that much because of the flat 5th.

Harmonic and melodic are variations on the natural minor.

I forget which is which, but the harmonic and melodic minor scales are the same with this critical difference: the 6th and 7th degrees are raised when you are ascending, to lead into the tonic, and are flatted when descending.

The natural is simply the Aeolian Mode, or 6th degree of the Major scale.

The natural minor is probably best used for anything based on the Blues, while harmonic and melodic are generally used for jazz or classical.

Check out Olav Torvund's Guitar Page for a more thorough discussion on the minor scales and when to use them.

As far as I know, most composers when using the Melodic Minor Scale (Aeolian), acsend with 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7, and the decsend with 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.
I have alot to learn about theory, but for now when trying to compose i'd usually just record the progression and improvise, find what works and does work, then anaylize what I write.

If the chord progression is based off of these chords: Amin Dmin Emin, use the A natural minor scale (also known as relative minor and aoelian).

If the chord progression is based off of Amin Dmin E or E7 use A harmonic minor scale.

If the chord progression is Amin to D or D7 use A dorian.

If the chord progression is Amin to Bb , use A phrygian

Originally Posted by: chris moodIf the chord progression is Amin to D or D7 use A dorian.

Am - D7 (A is the tonic) = A melodic minor
Am - D7 (A is NOT the tonic) = A dorian

In reverse, D7 to Amin, A melodic minor is preferred. Especially if the extremely common melodic line 6-7-1 is used.

Yeah.
Eventually you just learn to think of it as 1 big minor scale;
A B C D E F F# G G# A
You can even slip in the D# from the blues scale.

To me, Melodic minor never sound that cool used by itself as a diatonic tonal center,,, I guess that's why all those classical guys always combined it with the relative minor with that ascending/descending thing. I tend to only use Melodic minor as "altered" scales over dominants.

The IVmaj - Imin is not a bad progression if you have the right melody in mind. Actually I think it has a nice exotic flavor to it. If the 6th in the melody occurs on a harmonic beat and then resolves to the seventh as a passing tone. The IVmaj is a solid choice for harmony, or at least the basic foundation for it.

In melody writting in minor, I think the melodic minor is perfect. The leading tone and although it occurs in the harmonic minor scale. The third between the the 6th and 7th is wrong. The way the melodic minor fixes this, and even the rules on it's usage is still correct to my ears. I rarely ever break the guidelines with the melodic minor scale.