FRETBOARD FLUENCY
This month Martin Goulding looks into the intracies of the Melodic Minor scale sound most regularly heard in jazz and fusion styles.
Martin Goulding examines the Melodic Minor scale and shows some cool licks that employ it.
Welcome to this month’s column on developing fretboard fluency, with the first part in a series of columns looking the Melodic Minor scale. This scale is built on the interval formula: b3- R-2- 4-5-6-7, and can be visualised as the b3rd Major scale (Ionian mode) with a degree. From this formula, we can also identify the associated four-note ‘home’ chord as a b3- minor-major 7, with the formula: R- 5-7. Perhaps most recognisable as the exotic second chord in the intro to the Led Zeppelin track Stairway To Heaven (Am maj9), this chord is more often found in Latin jazz progressions, with the major 7th degree usually resolving up a semitone to the root of the tonic minor chord.
In addition to studying the diatonic chords, modes and arpeggios of this popular scale over the course of our series, we’ll also see how this sound can be used in tandem with some of our Major scale modes to heighten tension over static vamps. In this week’s lesson, we’ll start by learning the A Melodic Minor scale and associated minormajor 7 chord in five shapes. To further develop our visualisation and technique using alternate picking, we’ll apply sequences of four, and diatonic 3rds to shape 1. There’s lots more useful stuff to come, so stay tuned.
NEXT MONTH Martin investigates more cool ways to navigate the fretboard
the min or-major 7th is most recogni sabl e as the second chord in led zeppelin ’s iconi c tra ck stair way to heaven