Unchained MM Melody! – Melodic Minor in 4ths

300x300Here's a groovy little line, based on 3 note groupings of diatonic 4th intervals of the Melodic Minor scale, which morphed into being today as I waxed saxosophical.

In my recent series of posts entitled "Melodic Minor: Major's Evil Twin", Pts. 1 -5, it was mentioned that:

1) The Melodic Minor scale system does not contain an unbroken row of 6 perfect fourths, as does Major (i.e. C Maj: B-E-A-D-G-C-F). As a result of altering the Maj. 3rd "E" to "Eb", the newly created C Melodic Minor scale now has 4 perfect fourths, 2 tritones (Eb-A, F-B) and a diminshed fourth (B-Eb, which sounds as a Maj. 3rd).

This means that different finger patterns are created than if you were to play purely Maj. diatonic 4ths or lines based on perfect 4ths, a la Walter Bishop, jr's method. In fact, getting MM 4ths under your fingers will enhance your ability to create hybrid lines using all of these methods.

2) Melodic Minor has no "avoid notes", as does Maj. (i.e. "F" in C Maj.), so that theoretically, nothing will sound "wrong", plus diatonic melodies, chords, and bass lines are all pretty much interchangeable.

Each 2 bar phrase, one ascending & one descending, contains all 7 notes of the Melodic Minor scale.

There are myriads of ways which you could harmonize this line, so knock yourself out.

Thanks, I think I will.

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Treble Clef             Bass Clef

Finale 2004 - [Melodic Minor Melody in 4ths wp.MUS]

B. Stern


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