The staff shows a complete melodic minor scale (15 notes, ascending and descending), and your task is to recognize which one it is. On easy you choose from 4 options; on hard you first pick the root note and then its accidental.
Tip: In its ascending form, the melodic minor scale raises both the 6th and the 7th degree, which removes the augmented second of the harmonic minor scale. It sounds almost like a major scale, except that the 3rd stays lowered. That lowered 3rd confirms it is a minor scale.
What is the melodic minor scale?
The melodic minor scale changes with the direction. Ascending, the 6th and 7th degrees are raised by a half step compared with the natural minor scale, giving the pattern W-H-W-W-W-W-H (UK: tone and semitone). Descending, the scale goes back to the natural minor scale: W-W-H-W-W-H-W read from the top down.
The reason is melodic. When the line climbs to the tonic, raising the 6th and 7th avoids the augmented second of the harmonic minor scale and makes a smoother line. When it goes down, the pull toward the tonic is no longer needed and the darker natural minor is used.
Example: A melodic minor
Ascending: A-B-C-D-E-F♯-G♯-A (6th and 7th raised). Descending: A-G-F-E-D-C-B-A (the same as natural minor).
How it differs from the harmonic minor scale
The harmonic minor scale raises only the 7th and keeps the 6th unaltered, which leaves an augmented second. The ascending melodic minor scale raises the 6th too, which removes that augmented second and gives a smoother, more vocal line.
The 15 melodic minor scales
There are 15 melodic minor scales, one for each key. The exercise shows the complete scale: the ascending form (with the raised 6th and 7th) followed by the descending form (back to natural minor). In each key the 6th and 7th degrees can appear as naturals (if the key signature had them flat) or as sharps (if the key signature had them natural).
To lock these scales into your fingers, practice them with the online metronome at 60-70% of your target tempo, raising it by 5 BPM each time you play three repetitions without mistakes. The online tuner lets you check your tuning before you start.
Printable worksheet (PDF)
The same exercise on paper, for class: eight melodic minor scales written on one side of an A4 sheet, half with a key signature and half with the accidentals before each note. The name of each scale is written below it. With a separate answer sheet, with the answers in red. The melodic minor is written in full, ascending and descending.
It goes from easier to harder: first key signatures with few accidentals in treble clef, then more accidentals and the bass clef.
Download the worksheet (PDF A4) Answers
You may print and photocopy the worksheets freely for the classroom. There are also worksheets of this same type for writing and writing with a key signature, and in the scales index you can create custom worksheets, mixing whichever types you like.