Melodic Minor Runs

[DankStar]

Here's another kinda neat trick with the harmonic minor scale where you can end up shredding it up in 3 octaves, but it's a rather simple concept.

First we have a typical A harmonic minor scale:

A book I have has a cool ascending run in 3 octaves that goes like this. Pretty fun pattern of whole and half step jumps:

Sounds like this:


If you take that 3 octave run, and apply a stereotypical descending interval (one often used for pentatonic licks), you can really get cookin' down the neck and go from F up high to F way down low in no time. It works best if you apply alternate picking of some sort and lots of pull offs (wherever it strikes your fancy - kind of time consuming to document where all mine are, but you get the idea in the video).

continued:

I think I tabbed that right - you can hear it below if not. I did make a slight modification around the A and D strings and broke the 3-note-per-string pattern to keep it from being a tongue twister, but you can keep the 3-notes-per-string style if you can handle it. First part kind of this run has that snake-charmer feel, which I always dig. I add a slide up/down at the end for giggles (not shown in the tab).

Sounds like this:


Happy Shredding!

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

Nice!

 

[DankStar]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

Nice!

thanks Laz! I was starting to wonder if it was worth posting.

 

[Warheart]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

I think that is the Harmonic Minor Scale, not the Melodic minor scale?

 

[DankStar]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

I think that is the Harmonic Minor Scale, not the Melodic minor scale?

doh, thanks! I'll change the wording above. not sure why I said melodic (not like I know either one very well though to be honest; I'm trying to break my pentatonic/modal rut as we speak).

 

[Warheart]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

doh, thanks! I'll change the wording above. not sure why I said melodic (not like I know either one very well though to be honest; I'm trying to break my pentatonic/modal rut as we speak).

Sounds great though!

I'd have to say that your second video with the run down does sound pentatonic in certain places.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

I'd have to say that your second video with the run down does sound pentatonic in certain places.

I might as well just get a pentatonic scale tattoo. :beerchug:

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

Nice, dude! Very clean alternate picking there.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

Nice, dude! Very clean alternate picking there.

Thanks LD!

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

I think it would be more useful if you improvised over a chord progression so we can see how the melodic minor can be used instead of picking out the pattern. I'd like to know how to apply the melodic minor in my playing.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

I think it would be more useful if you improvised over a chord progression so we can see how the melodic minor can be used instead of picking out the pattern. I'd like to know how to apply the melodic minor in my playing.

I'll work on an addendum (harmonic minor,
I mislabeled it initially). At the time I thought this was neat from a technical standpoint, but I gotta move past that to some theory and applications you're right. I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Melodic Minor Runs

for the record you can make it melodic minor by sharping the 6. That is, "jazz" melodic minor. In classical MM you'd have to ascend using the #6 and #7 and descend in natural minor--though this was really just a way for them to play over major IV and V chords in minor keys.

Also a good way to start thinking about application is to develop, say, an 8th note line, where your chord tones land on downbeats and the other scale tones are basically passing tones.