anyone use Melodic Minor in their blues?

[hottub]

and if so, where does it fit, so to speak? Is it one of those things you use as the chords are changing? And if you were playing an Aminor blues, would you be using A melodic minor?

[russ6100]

Is it one of those things you use as the chords are changing?

Yep. That's one of the places. You can use it the same way you would 1/2 whole diminished.....

So, you might think like this:

Bb blues, 4th bar play B melodic minor (Bb super locrian), yields some nice tension to to take you to the IV7.....

Edit - Sorry - I didn't read the part about Am blues.... same deal....play melodic minor 1/2 step up (A super locrian) near the end of the 4 bar phrase to build up some tension going to the IV7....


Also, with a minor blues, you can of course play some melodic minor stuff directly over the im7, or anything minor or minor-major 7th sounding....hope I'm being clear.....

[Swain]

Here's a little more, on the subject:

http://mr335.tv/

[hottub]

Thanks guys!

Swain, great link. Thanks!

[rotren]

I use melodic minor quite a bit, often where there's a "normal" minor chord.

Another way I often use the scale - the chord is A7 and I'm playing E melodic minor. Creates a Dominant 7#11 sound.

[Clifford-D]

Check out this chord usage

G7...............C7..............G7..........G7alt ........C7
|-----------|-----------|---------|--7--11--|---8-|
|---5---10--|--8---11--|--10--8--|--8--11--|--10-|
|---4---9---|--7---10--|--9---7--|--6--10--|--9--|
|---3---9---|--8---10--|--9---7--|--6--9---|--8--|
|-----------|-----------|--8---7--|---------|-----|
|---3-------|-----------|---------|---------|-----|
Mixolydian....................................Mel Min...Mixo


G7...............C7..............G7..........G7alt ........C7
|-----------|-----------|---------|----------|-----|
|---5---10--|--8---11--|--10--8--|--11---9--|--8-|
|---4---9---|--7---10--|--9---7--|--10---8--|--7--|
|---3---9---|--8---10--|--9---7--|--9----8--|--8--|
|-----------|-----------|--8---7--|-10----8--|--7--|
|---3-------|-----------|---------|----------|-----|
Mixolydian....................................Mel Min.....Mixo