What does Melodic minor scale (ascending) mean in music?

Melodic minor scale (ascending) means "Natural minor with the 6th and 7th raised".

What type of musical term is Melodic minor scale (ascending)?

Melodic minor scale (ascending) is a theory concepts term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the theory concepts word list.

Music theory · Musical terms · Theory concepts

Melodic minor scale (ascending) — meaning in music

Q: What grade is Melodic minor scale (ascending) tested in?

Melodic minor scale (ascending) first appears at Grade 2 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Melodic minor scale (ascending) is a musical term meaning Natural minor with the 6th and 7th raised. It is a theory concepts marking, first tested at Grade 2 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

Natural minor with the 6th and 7th raised

Theory conceptsFirst tested: Grade 2

Translations

French	Mineur naturel avec la 6ème et la 7ème relevées
German	Natürliches Moll mit erhöhter 6. und 7. Note
Italian	Minore naturale con la 6a e la 7a rialzata
Spanish	Menor natural con la 6ª y 7ª elevadas
Chinese	自然小调，六度和七度升高

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All theory concepts terms

Allemande Alto range Anacrusis Answer phrase Arco Bar line Bass clef Bass range Binary form Bourrée Cello clef Cello range Chromatic semitone Compound interval Courante Crotchet (US name)Demisemiquaver Diatonic semitone Dominant Dominant (degree)Double bar line Double bass clef Double flat (𝄫)Double sharp (𝄪)Doubling rule Duplet Final bar line Flat Gavotte Gigue Harmonic minor scale Imperfect cadence Interrupted cadence Inversion of a 3rd Inversion of a 4th Inversion of a 5th Leading note Leger line Mediant Melodic minor scale (ascending)Melodic minor scale (descending)Minim (US name)Minuet Modulate to the dominant Modulate to the relative minor Modulation Natural Natural minor scale Parallel 5ths Parallel 8ves Perfect cadence Pivot chord Pizzicato Plagal cadence Quaver (US name)Question phrase Real sequence Relative minor of C major Relative minor of F major Relative minor of G major Repeat sign Sarabande Semibreve (US name)Semiquaver (US name)Semitone Sequence Sharp Slur Soprano range Stave (staff)Subdominant Subdominant (degree)Submediant Supertonic Tenor range Ternary form Tie Tonal sequence Tone Tonic Tonic (degree)Treble clef Triplet Viola clef Viola range Violin clef Violin range Voice crossing Voice overlap