Topic summary
Melodic minor
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Minor scale.
Melodic minor
Given the awkwardness of the harmonic minor's augmented second, composers developed another version of the scale known as the melodic minor. When played upwards, both the sixth and seventh scale degrees appear as they do in the major scale. The only lowered scale degree is the third, which ameliorates voice leading. During a descent, the sixth and seventh scale degrees are lowered to their positions in the natural minor scale.