Just wondering, in the exams, do you prefer to play Melodic Minor Scales or Harmonic Minor Scales? Quite a lot of people tend to choose harmonic, because it's the same ascending and descending, but there must be some people who choose melodic or it wouldn't be there. Oh yeah, could you say why as well please?

Wobby

Harmonic, because it's easier. The pattern is the same both up and down.

But I like melodic too - it's interesting.

I always do the harmonic minors, because I love that large interval. Plus, as cheeble said, it's the same pattern up and down.

harmonic, soo much easier

I used to prefer harmonic, but now I like the melodic a lot because they're different and just the sound of them to play is enjoyable for me.

Am I gonna get shot again?

QUOTE (uberzoldat @ Feb 12 2005, 09:20 PM)

Am I gonna get shot again?

Why? It's the most melodically pleasing. On the way up you need a leading note and to avoid the nasty leap you sharpen the 6th. On the way down you need neither so it falls naturally.


.'.

Melodically, I do enjoy them a lot, it's just in another thread I got shot by a firing squad for saying that I like scales.

it's ok, you can join the "we like scales" club.

harmonic are generally easier I think... however I'm learning my grade 5 minors melodic, because then moving on to grade 6 at least I won't have to suddenly learn all the melodics from scratch!

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Feb 12 2005, 10:33 PM)

it's ok, you can join the "we like scales" club.

Thanks

QUOTE (Piano_Lady @ Feb 13 2005, 05:18 AM)

harmonic, soo much easier

I agree. Harmonic.............Harmonic................Harmonic.................Harmonic.............

Harmonic are easier, because they are the same ascending and descending, but you will have to play both forms for grade 6 and above!

But Melodic Minors are more musical. That's why they are there.

.'.

i always do harmonic until this time because i have to do both

I thought harmonic was more useful as a beginner because more pieces are written in harmonic minors than melodic and it gets you used to the sound of minor pieces.

what are melodic and harmonic scales?

QUOTE (ConcertPianist @ Feb 13 2005, 03:25 PM)

what are melodic and harmonic scales?

Melodic and harmonic minor scales are two different types of minor scale. The melodic minor raises the 6th and 7th degrees on the ascent, and when descending it lowers them to the pitch indicated by the key signature. The harmonic minor raises the 7th degree only, but on both the ascent and the descent.

For example:

D melodic minor ascending: D E F G A B C# D
D melodic minor descending: D C Bb A G F E D

D harmonic minor ascending: D E F G A Bb C# D
D harmonic minor descending: D C# Bb A G F E D

Does that make sense? I hope it does!! If not, there's a kind of semitone pattern I suppose...

Melodic minor ascending: Tone Semitone Tone Tone Tone Tone Semitone
Melodic minor descengin: Tone Tone Semitone Tone Tone Semitone Tone

Harmonic minor ascending: Tone Semitone Tone Tone Semitone Tone-and-a-half Semitone
Harmonic minor descending: Semitone Tone-and-a-half Semitone Tone Tone Semitone Tone

-

ConcertPianist, can I suggest you invest in a scale book? Then you will have all the scales written out and be able start to learn them.

Yep, as far as I know the scales in 3rds are harmonic... ditto all the contrary motion scales. I think similar motion starting 6th and 3rd apart is probably both though...

I prefer melodic minor scales basically because I get bored easily, so a few different notes on the way down won't do me no harm.

I think that melodic are much easier to play.

The next question... if I can remember it correctly...

Working on grade 2 theory with an adult student of mine who ask all sorts of questions about things i always just accepted (relly makes me have to think about things!).
The latest is about minor scales. I think the main question was why the raised 7th..... best I have come up with so far is that it gives a more 'finished' feel at the end.

I encourage her to practice related major and minor scales on the same day if she is splitting scale practice between days to help to link them as having the same key signature. She does have trouble seeing A minor as having an open key signature though because of the G#.

I tend to play the melodics, I find that I think they sit better on the piano (and viola), but I learn both harmonic and melodic at my teachers request and both on the viola because, well I have to for g6 viola.

thanks alot cheeble i got it now, but i dont know tones and semitones but now know melodic and harmonic. thanks alot.

semitone is just one note up form the next

eg. a semitone up form C is C#

a tone is like 2 steps

eg. a tone up from C is D


does that help at all?

i thought that was it.....
semitone= half step
tone= whole step

i get it thanks

same difference

ok test then

whats a semitone up from Bb

whats a tone down from F

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 13 2005, 08:35 PM)

same difference ok test then whats a semitone up from Bb whats a tone down from F

semitone up from Bb = B

tone down from F = Eb (tricky one)

A+

yay *claps*

A* for you!

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 13 2005, 07:41 AM)

QUOTE (Catrin @ Feb 13 2005, 11:56 AM) I thought harmonic was more useful as a beginner because more pieces are written in harmonic minors than melodic and it gets you used to the sound of minor pieces. When you do scales in thirds (same hand) they are harmonic minors. That's grade 8 innit? Assume piano meant as this is the piano forum.

yeah, its grade 8, but what kills me are the major thirds in one hand legato and the chromatic thirds...i managed to pass the scale section of my exam last year, though.

QUOTE (sbhoa @ Feb 13 2005, 05:21 PM)

I think that melodic are much easier to play.

even on the piano? what about those ones from flats where you have to change fingering on the way down??!

I find melodics easier on the piano.

QUOTE (isabelsmells @ Feb 14 2005, 09:41 AM)

I find melodics easier on the piano.

you are strange LOL

i hate doing melodics on piano!

i'm awful at melodic! i've always done harmonic when i've had the choice.

QUOTE

I think that melodic are much easier to play.

QUOTE

even on the piano? what about those ones from flats where you have to change fingering on the way down??!

Yes, I mean on piano.. the fingering change just happens for me because the fingering fits the notes you have to play.. if you see what I mean

fair enough! I found the flat melodics really hard to learn at first, though I think I've got them now.

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 14 2005, 10:08 AM)

QUOTE (isabelsmells @ Feb 14 2005, 09:41 AM) I find melodics easier on the piano. you are strange LOL i hate doing melodics on piano!

Not strange, just special.

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 13 2005, 08:35 PM)

same difference ok test then whats a semitone up from Bb

This doesn't matter for pianists, but upper string players have two answers for this. Semitones come in two flavours, chromatic (AKA augmented unison) and diatonic (because they occur in scales: AKA minor second). A diatonic semitone above Bb is Cb (violinist puts down the next finger); a chromatic semitone above Bb is B (violinist usually shifts finger so as to get ready for the C that might follow).

QUOTE

whats a tone down from F

Strictly speaking, a tone is a major second, which gets to Eb. However, pianists probably think of the diminished third (to D#) as a sort of tone and also the doubly augmented unison (to Fbb).

I should know by now that nothing is what it seems. F doubleflat will never sound the same.
! ! !
veronique.

QUOTE (kenm @ Feb 14 2005, 07:45 PM)

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Feb 13 2005, 08:35 PM) same difference ok test then whats a semitone up from Bb This doesn't matter for pianists, but upper string players have two answers for this. Semitones come in two flavours, chromatic (AKA augmented unison) and diatonic (because they occur in scales: AKA minor second). A diatonic semitone above Bb is Cb (violinist puts down the next finger); a chromatic semitone above Bb is B (violinist usually shifts finger so as to get ready for the C that might follow). QUOTE whats a tone down from F Strictly speaking, a tone is a major second, which gets to Eb. However, pianists probably think of the diminished third (to D#) as a sort of tone and also the doubly augmented unison (to Fbb).

what the....

are you taking college theory?

QUOTE (kenm @ Feb 14 2005, 11:45 AM)

also the doubly augmented unison (to Fbb).

I tend to not like double sharps/flats ...but that's just me...
Good night, everyone!

QUOTE (davidyko @ Feb 15 2005, 02:54 PM)

Good night, everyone!

Errr. Good night.............
Good afternoon for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i like the sound of harmonic minor,
but when i sing,or playing on the violin,i'll have to play the melodic minor,because my teacher said it's easier on the violin...
however i plaed the harmonic minor for all my piano exams (3-5)
hehe,however you'll have to do both after g5 :>

I don't mind either, harmonic and melodic on the flute. The worst ever scales for me which I have to do are diminished ones. (Not diminished 7ths)

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Feb 15 2005, 08:06 AM)

I don't mind either, harmonic and melodic on the flute. The worst ever scales for me which I have to do are diminished ones. (Not diminished 7ths)

you mean diminished 6ths??

Nope, I have to do 2 types of diminished scales for Flute Grade 7 ~

ST - T diminished scales
T - ST diminished scales

where T = tone, and ST = semitone

thats confusing

Don't even ask, they don't even sound right!

im not going to, mine are confusing enough,let alone your ones!

Yes, I know, I really don't like my dimishised scales!

it depends really on what you are good at. if your memory is good, melodic would definately be a better choice as the 6th and 7th notes would be either both on black keys or both on whites. it makes fast playing and movement easier. there would be a slimmer chance of hitting the wrong notes. however, if you memory is bad but your technique is good. harmonic would be a better choice for you.

I did harmonic for grades 1-4 as they were easier to memorise, but did the melodics for grade 5 so that I didn't have to learn another set in a panic at grade 6 when I suddenly needed them. I like melodic minors