It's just kind of weird and funny and strange to wrap my mind around because i've noticed on the way up it's only 1 semitone off on the 3rd from being the open string A-major scale and then it swaps back to the minor scale i have come to know on the way back down. it really is weird.
Melodic Minor - derived as a classical compositional convention ascending with the 7th note 'leading' a half step to the tonic.
You can think of its construction as utilizing tetrachords of Min–Maj.
It can be confusing as to the origin and/or use of all the possible scales in western harmony.
The Asymmetrical scales we learn as Modes are derived from the 4 "Parent Scales" (harmonic systems); Major Scale, Melodic Minor Scale, Harmonic Minor Scale, Harmonic Major Scale.
Listed below are the possible minor scale variations, but in general it could be argued that Aeolian, Dorian, Locrian, Phrygian, Melodic and Harmonic Minors are the most prevalent in our western popular culture.
- in the Major Scale there are 4 minor modes: ii Dorian, iii Phrygian, iv Aeolian, iiv Locrian
- in the Melodic Minor Scale there are 4 minor modes: i Ionian b3, ii Phrygian nat6, iv Locrian nat2, iiv Locrian b4
- in the Harmonic Minor Scale there are 4 minor modes: i Aeolian nat7, ii Locrian nat6, iv Dorian #4, iiv Locrian b4 bb7
- in the Harmonic Major Scale there are 3 minor modes: ii Dorian b5, iii Phrygian b4, iiv Locrian bb7
oh thank you, would you know why I wasn't taught this melodic minor as my basis for minor scales and instead was taught the aeolian mode minor then? Is this just a difference in how music has been taught over the years?
Depending the setting and teacher teaching you, Aeolian is the basic stepping stone from the Major Scale to learn the difference in harmonic qualities (ie Maj and Min). If one were to continue in this manor, one would expect to be taught
all the remaining Major modes, then from there all the modes of; Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor, the Harmonic Major.
These scales don't supersede each other. Each scale is its own 'sonic landscape' and is used to support a tonality (key) or used compositionally to support voice leading. Western harmony has evolved since the 1500s so new sounds/tonalities were developed to serve the purpose.