JAZZ
b Y lES wISE
JAZZ MEloDIc MINoR ScAlE
The “Real” Jazz Sound for Melodic Soloing
The jazz or “real” melodic minor scale is simply a major scale with a lowered
3rd degree. Notice how this scale gives us a combined major and minor effect.
By lowering the 3rd
of the A% major scale,
this scale becomes an
A% jazz minor scale.
Harmonized A% Jazz Minor Scale
RULE: Play a jazz
melodic minor scale one half-step higher
than the root of the dominant 7th chord
(i.e. for G7, play A melodic minor scale).
Because this scale contains a B (C%) note (the 3rd of G7), it gives us a strong
G7 chordal sound. Starting on the root of the jazz minor scale, the arpeggio
we derive is an A%m(maj7) arpeggio. Remember, this is simply an A%maj7 or 9
arpeggio with a lowered 3rd degree.
Tension and Resolution with Jazz Minor
