The first mode of the melodic minor scale is the one known to most people, which is simply known as the melodic minor scale. This mode is the same as the major scale except it has a minor 3rd to it. The character pitches of this mode are the minor 3rd, major 6th and major 7th.
|------Octave-----||---Extensions---|
1-2-b3-4-5-6-7-8-9-b10-11-12-13
By stacking 3rds above the root of this mode, we get a series of minor chords:
1-b3-5= Minor triad
1-b3-5-7= Minor #7*
1-b3-5-7-9= Minor 9(#7)
1-b3-5-7-9-11= Minor 11(#7)
1-b3-5-7-9-11-13= Minor 13(#7)
*When the natural 7th occurs in a minor chord, it is often called a #7 in the chord symbol.
Here are some other chords which can be built from this mode as well:
1-b3-5-6= Minor 6
1-b3-5-6-9= Minor 6/9
1-b3-5-9= Minor add9
1-4-5= Sus4
1-b3-5-6-7= Minor 6(#7)
1-b3-5-6-7-9= Minor 6/9(#7)
Even though these chords aren't built from this mode, this mode will work over them even though the major and minor 7th will clash. But the clash doesn't sound too bad so be sure to listen to how they sound,
1-b3-5-b7-9= Minor 9
1-b3-5-b7-9-11= Minor 11
1-b3-5-b7-9-11-13= Minor 13
Notice that the fingerings for this mode are the same ones as the major scale except the 3rd is flattened.
Melodic Minor Vamps- The first vamp is a common progression to use the melodic minor over. This progression stresses the natural 7th and 6th. Vamp #2 is similar to #1. hang on the b3, 6 and 7.
Vamp #1: (Gm#7/Gm6/Gm#7/Gm) (Use G Melodic Minor. All black dots on G)
Vamp #2: (Cm6/Cm6/Cm6/Cm9(#7)) (Use C Melodic Minor.)
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