Scale guide
C Minor Melodic - Melodic Minor Scale
In one sentence: Three flats. High versatility, excellent for jazz standards. Less accessible than Am but very musical.
Essential Formula
ASCENDING: T-S-T-T-T-T-S DESCENDING: T-S-T-T-S-T-T
Notes (US notation)
Asc: C D Eb F G A B Desc: C Bb Ab G F Eb D C
Notes (Latin notation)
Asc: Do Re Mi b Fa Sol La Si Desc: Do Si b La b Sol Fa Mi b Re Do
Technical Sheet
- Level: Intermediate Low
- Alterations: 3 flats
- Type: minor (melodic)
- Tonic: C
- scaleKey: C_minor-melodic
Fingering - RH
| Direction | 1 octave |
|---|---|
| Asc | 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 |
| Desc | 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1 |
Fingering - LH
| Direction | 1 octave |
|---|---|
| Asc | 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1 |
| Desc | 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1 |
The Duality: Ascending vs Descending
Ascending = C major (luminous) Descending = C minor natural (dark)
Musical Character
Jazz standards: "All the Things You Are", etc. Bossa nova: Very common. Versatile: Combines minor drama with major aspiration.
Iconic Progressions
Cm(mel)-F-Bb ← Jazz Cm(mel)-G-Cm(mel) ← Contemplative
Why It's INTERMEDIATE
- Three flats require black key familiarity
- Emotional duality demands interpretive skill
- Gateway to jazz standards and bossa nova
- Builds on natural minor foundation
Do → Use → Understand
- Practice ascending (major brightness) vs descending (minor darkness)
- Play over Cm(mel)-F-Bb progression
- Use in jazz standard improvisations
Checklist
- Duality clear (major vs minor)
- Three flats natural
- Progressions fluid