The melodic minor scale is a minor scale with both the sixth and seventh notes raised by half a step, but only when ascending. A descending melodic minor scale is identical to a natural minor scale.

The melodic minor scale can be built using similar methods, but the main thing that sets it apart from its two relatives is that, traditionally, it uses one pattern when it’s ascending (going up the ...

The other common scale is the minor scale. It’s a bit darker in mood. In fact if a piece of music has a minor scale as its foundation, it will usually end up sounding sad or dramatic (or both).