Why are minor scales so confusing... #shorts

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[sihplak]

0:33 Because leading-tones. Just like how natural 7 resolves up to 1, flat 7 resolves down to 6, AND ALSO b6 resolves down to 5.

Further, classical music uses harmonic minor insofar as harmonic minor is how you get a dominant V7 in a minor key. However, classical music likes step-wise voice leading, and augmented/diminished intervals are disliked because they aren't smooth and they are difficult to sing, so having an augmented 2nd from b6 to natural-7 is bad. As such, melodic minor not only ensures smooth voice-leading, BUT ALSO removes the augmented 2nd for when you need a minor-scale melody over a V7 in a minor key.

[MinifigD]

Glad to see a guy that addresses even the most minor of issues.

[maxmeyers]

That end got me rolling. Thanks. Now everyone in the mall looks
at me funny.

[AlexStening]

Anyone know why a melodic minor scale goes natural on the way down? I don't even think my college theory teacher knew xD

[mjs]

“If you’re a nerd, and you play classical music…”




Gosh- that hurt

[patrickconlon]

Melodic minor up and natural minor down is to prevent augmented seconds in traditional part writing

[CMM]

Other minor scales:
Dorian
Phrygian
Dorian b2
Dorian #4
Lydian #2
Phrygian b4
Lydian b3
Hungarian minor
Lydian #2#6
Alt nat 5bb7
Hungarian major
Altbb6bb7
Dorian b2#4
Neapolitan minor
Hungarian gypsy
Ionian #2
Neapolitan major
Enigmatic minor
Dorian b4
Aeolian bb7
Locrian bb6
Phrygian#4
Mixolydian #2
Augmented
H/w dim

[laurencenarte]

"There's a lot of ways to play A Minor"

From a Musician: 😄

From an Old Man: 😧

[ademers]

the short format and comedic value. Charles you're a gem.

[tecnosinemusic]

Charles, I appreciate you and all that you do. Thanks. lol

[YxngFresco]

Uhhh your natural minor arpeggio jam was gorgeoussss

[LouisPerronmusic]

Ah yes, the Major b3 scale, very nice, very nice

[Cloudburzt]

Random rambling on min7 and maj7 chords:
I often felt that maj7 chords sounded more sad than min7 chords. I suppose it could depend on voicings too, but my ear always latched a bit onto say the Eminor on top of a C note (Cmaj7) or Cmaj on top of an A note being an Amin7. I know the various 7th chords are a quality of sound by themselves of course, but Cmaj 7 always felt more melancholic to me than say an Cmin7.

[Unlucky_Gemini]

harmonic minor makes brain go “hehe Egypt”

[mikoajp.]

The classical nerd melodic minor thing is exactly what my daughter practices for the last month, which made me go totally wtf, thanks!

[kylahsutton]

I was always told the reason you change melodic minor back on the way down is to have tendency tones going to the most stable notes, especially le to sol, and also I think it might enable some other interesting chords, but mostly as non-chord tones of some kind for nice voice leading. That's why it's called "melodic" minor. For nice melodies, or at least that was a nice way to remember it

[folkenkanzaki]

I can't tell you how much I love your content. 10/10

[Arkevah]

When harmonizing a minor scale ascending, If you voicelead im ivm V7 im, you'll get that "bad" augmented second.
So a the solution is to borrow the IV major chord. So Cm F G7 Cm instead of Cm Fm G7 Cm

When you harmonize a minor scale decending that wont be as much an issue. Thats why in classical harmony usually have instances of melodic minor up and natural minor down. There are a lot of instances tho Bach wrote decending melodic minor scales, or leaning into that "wrong" augmented second. Tl, dr, its due to voiceleading within the framework of counterpoint.

[darthtorment]

Songs I'd love to hear Charles cover:
"Jane" Ben Folds Five
"How Indiscreet" Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire
"Paper Bag" Fiona Apple
"Tonight We Fly" The Divine Comedy
"Virtual Insanity" Jamiroqaui

[alison]

In modern music however, aeolian (natural minor) and dorian (and phrygian to an extent) are used way more than harmonic and melodic minor.