Melodic Minor Scales (Guitar Lesson)
What are you waiting for? Get your membership now!
Melodic Minor Scales
Jane provides an introductory lesson on the melodic minor scale.
Taught by Jane Miller in Jazz Guitar with Jane seriesLength: 2:44Difficulty: 2.0 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Jazz Guitar with Jane
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsIn this lesson series, you will be exploring the world of Jazz guitar with Jane Miller.
Lesson 1
Interview with Jane Miller
This exciting interview takes a close look at the playing and teaching of Jane Miller. Learn about her influences, some jazz recommendations, and her musical experience.
Length: 43:05 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Introductory Lesson
Jane Miller talks about her new jazz series and provides a couple quick tips to get you started.
Length: 9:03 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Hand Warm-ups
Jane Miller explains the importance of hand stretches and warm-up exercises.
Length: 4:06 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Jazz and Blues
Jane explains the chord changes used in a 12 bar jazz style blues.
Length: 17:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Soloing Over the Blues
Jane Miller shares some fun ideas about soloing over a 12 bar blues.
Length: 22:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The ii-V-I Progression
Jane talks more about the ii-V-I progression and how to work it into your jazz playing.
Length: 7:25 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Tensions on Chords
Jane Miller shares some valuable thoughts regarding chord tensions.
Length: 20:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Melodic Minor Scales
Jane provides an introductory lesson on the melodic minor scale.
Length: 2:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Melodic Minor Scales Application
Jane explains how the melodic minor scale and its corresponding modes are used in jazz melodies.
Length: 18:09 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Movable Chord Forms
Jane takes a look at movable chord forms played on the treble strings.
Length: 20:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Movable Chord Forms Continued
Jane Miller expands on her discussion of movable chord forms and how they apply to jazz.
Length: 19:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Groove & Rhythm
Jane Miller shares a wonderful lesson about the importance of rhythm.
Length: 7:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rhythm Part 2
Jane Miller explores more rhythm and groove with another lesson using the metronome.
Length: 7:40 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rhythm Part 3
Jane Miller continues her discussion on rhythm and using a metronome.
Length: 6:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daily Practice
Jane Miller concludes her discussion on metronomes and forming daily practice routines.
Length: 10:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Right Hand Techniques
Jane Miller dives into her first lesson on right hand techniques.
Length: 3:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Right Hand Part 2
Jane Miller dives right into part 2 of her Right Hand Techniques mini-series.
Length: 5:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Right Hand Part 3
Jane Miller talks about fingerstyle playing exclusively in the third installment of Right Hand Techniques.
Length: 18:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Drop 2 Voicings
Jane Miller explores drop 2 voicings in this lesson.
Length: 18:06 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Bargain Chord
Jane Miller talks about a "bargain chord" in this lesson. Learn what a bargain chord is and how it can be applied to your playing.
Length: 15:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
Chord Solos
Jane Miller talks about chord solos in part one of this fascinating mini-series.
Length: 18:43 Difficulty: 2.5 FREE
Chord Solos Part 2
Jane Miller explores another aspect of chord solos in part two of this fun topic.
Length: 6:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chord Solos Part 3
Jane Miller concludes her discussion on chord solos.
Length: 13:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Latin Grooves
Jane Miller explores some common Latin vamps in this lesson.
Length: 10:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Repertoire Practice
Jane Miller shares her insights on the topic of practice versus repertoire practice.
Length: 7:39 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Song Demonstrations: Bedtime Story
Jane Miller plays an original song called "Bedtime Story" that showcases techniques discussed in earlier lessons such as the use of open strings and Bossa Nova comping.
Length: 4:19 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Song Demonstrations: Free Alongside Ship
Jane demonstrates another original song called "Free Alongside Ship" that uses techniques learned in previous lessons.
Length: 3:00 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
The Other Room
Jane Miller shares an original tuned called "The Other Room." Similar to songs taught in the past few lessons, "The Other Room" showcases techniques that Jane taught earlier in the series. See if you can...
Length: 4:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Diminished Chords & Scales
Jane Miller takes a look at diminished chords in this lesson. She also touches on diminished scales and their relationship with diminished and dominant chords.
Length: 11:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Diminished Chords: Inversions
Jane Miller continues her discussion on diminished chords. In this lesson, she touches on their inversions and how they can be used in chord progressions.
Length: 11:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Diminished Scales
Jane Miller changes gears and talks about diminished scales that go along with the diminished chords you learned.
Length: 12:48 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Substitutions
Jane Miller touches on making diminished 7th chords a substitution for dominant 7th chords.
Length: 15:38 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Diminished Scales Continued
Jane Miller returns to the subject of diminished scales. This time she explains how they fit in with the chord substitutions you learned about in the last lesson.
Length: 14:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Arpeggios
Jane Miller starts explaining arpeggios. In continuation of the last couple of lessons, she starts with diminished 7th chord arpeggios.
Length: 10:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Arpeggios Part 2
Jane Miller continues her discussion on arpeggios in this lesson. This time around, she focuses on major 7th chord arpeggios.
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Arpeggios Part 3
In continuation of her last lesson, Jane Miller discusses another use for major 7th arpeggios.
Length: 8:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Arpeggios Part 4
Jane Miller gives a few more examples of using major 7th arpeggios against minor chords and explains how you can better incorporate them into your playing.
Length: 14:45 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Major 6th Chords
In this lesson, Jane Miller talks about major 6th chords and their relationship with minor 7th chords.
Length: 8:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Scales & Patterns
Jane Miller talks about scales & patterns in this lesson. She addresses some popular questions including how to improve the melodic element of your improvisation.
Length: 10:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Scales & Patterns Part 2
Jane Miller revisits her last lesson and explains how to apply major scales.
Length: 7:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Scales & Patterns Part 3
Jane Miller continues her lessons about scales & patterns with a discussion on the pentatonic scale.
Length: 14:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Scales & Patterns Part 4
Jane Miller continues her discussion of the pentatonic scale and its patterns. She talks about how to start applying some of the lines you learned in the previous lesson.
Length: 13:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Whole Tone Scale
Jane Miller talks about the whole tone scale. This scale consists entirely of whole steps.
Length: 13:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Chromatic Scale
Now that you've learned all about the diminished and whole tone scales, Jane Miller discusses the chromatic scale.
Length: 9:21 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chromatic Scale Part 2
Jane Miller continues her discussion of the chromatic scale with a great exercise to help you practice dynamics.
Length: 6:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Dynamics & Improvising
Jane Miller continues her discussion on dynamics in this lesson. She invites you to think about volume as a way to add feeling or catch attention while improvising.
Length: 7:01 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Bass Lines
Jane Miller discusses bass lines in this lesson. She begins by explaining how you can get a bass line going by itself first. Then, she explains how to add in chord voicings.
Length: 15:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Upper Structure Triads
Jane Miller begins a discussion on upper structure triads. In this lesson, Jane refers to the top part of a major 7th chord as well as added tensions.
Length: 12:37 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Upper Structure Triads Part 2
Jane Miller continues her discussion of upper structure triads.
Length: 15:14 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Upper Structure Triads Part 3
Jane Miller picks up where she left off in her last lesson and shares a great technique that will provide you with some new comping options.
Length: 4:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Upper Structure Triads Part 4
Jane Miller concludes her discussion of upper structure triads. In this lesson, she helps you turn the E minor triad you have been using into a G major triad.
Length: 9:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lydian Mode
Jane Miller changes gears and focuses on the E Lydian mode in this lesson.
Length: 13:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
You Are Many Things
For the next portion of her Jazz series, Jane focuses on a tune called "You Are Many Things". She uses this song as a vehicle to talk about playing jazz melodies, chord comping, playing solo arrangements...
Length: 28:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Melody
In this lesson, Jane talks about playing the melody for "You Are Many Things." This includes a play along segment.
Length: 9:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Jazz Comping
Jane Miller gives some advice on comping in the context of a jazz standard. The tune "You Are Many Things" is once again used as an example.
Length: 21:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Advanced Comping
Jane talks about advanced comping techniques for the song "You Are Many Things." By the end of this lesson you will be able to add an implied melody while comping.
Length: 20:40 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Jazz Rhythm
Jane Miller provides some tips on comping with a swing feel.
Length: 14:11 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Jazz Bass Lines
In this lesson, Jane talks about applying a bass line to the tune "You Are Many Things".
Length: 16:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Chords and Bass Line Together
Jane demonstrates how to play the chords and bass line for "You Are Many Things" at the same time.
Length: 13:28 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Time Signatures
Jane Miller talks about putting a song in a different time signature when creating your own arrangement. She continues using "You are Many Things" as an example.
Length: 17:54 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Chord Solo
Jane Miller continues "You are Many Things" with a lesson about putting the chords and melody together.
Length: 20:02 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Chord Solo Part 2
Jane Miller continues her discussion on the chord solo for "You are Many Things."
Length: 23:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Improvising
Jane Miller continues using the song "You Are Many Things" for a lesson on improvising.
Length: 14:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing from a Lead Sheet
Jane Miller talks about playing from a lead sheet by using the song "You Are Many Things" as an example.
Length: 24:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing with Backing Tracks
Jane Miller tries out different aspects of the tune "You Are Many Things" against a bass track.
Length: 8:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Playing with Backing Tracks Part 2
In her newest lesson, Jane Miller plays against a comping backing track. This is a great track to practice your bass line and melody over.
Length: 8:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Playing with Backing Tracks Part 3
In part three, Jane Miller plays against a backing track that has both bass and comping together.
Length: 10:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing with Backing Tracks Part 4
Jane Miller is back with another "You are Many Things" backing track lesson. This time she plays against a track with just the melody.
Length: 11:51 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing with Backing Tracks Part 5
In her newest lesson, Jane Miller explains what it means to trade fours and plays against another backing track for practice.
Length: 16:09 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing with Backing Tracks Part 6
In Jane Miller's final lesson on playing against a backing track, she talks about the idea of leaving space. You will learn how limiting yourself will help you be more concise in your playing.
Length: 13:17 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
About Jane Miller
View Full Biography
Guitarist, composer, arranger, and Berklee Associate Professor, Jane Miller has roots in both Jazz and Folk circuits. In addition to leading her own jazz instrumental quartet, she is in a working Chamber Jazz Trio with saxophonist Cercie Miller and bassist David Clark, for which she contributes many compositions. She has been a frequent guitarist with singer-songwriter SONiA, of disappear fear.
Jane is a contributing writer to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, writing lessons for the popular intermediate column, The Woodshed. She also writes a monthly column for Premiere Guitar Magazine called the Jazz Box . She has contributed several lesson columns for the Mel Bay publishing company’s on-line magazine, Guitar Sessions.
The Jane Miller Group has released three CDs on Jane’s label, Pink Bubble Records; all three received national radio play and press. She has performed solo and in duo and group settings regionally and around the country at clubs, festivals, and concerts as well as live TV and Radio appearances in New England.
Since joining the faculty in 1994 at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jane has contributed many arrangements for solo guitar to the Guitar Department library, and has performed solo recitals and concerts with her group in the Berklee Performance Center and Recital Halls.
Discography
The Jane Miller Group "The Other Room" (2000)
The Jane Miller Trio "Secret Pockets" with guests Jay Ashby and Bill O'Connell (1998)
The Jane Miller Group "Postcard" with guests Patty Larkin, Mick Goodrick, Mili Bermejo and Ken LaRoche (1993)
SONiA "Me, Too" (1998)
Performances
Regattabar, Scullers, The Berklee Performance Center,The Firehouse, The Iron Horse, Club Passim, The Acton Jazz Cafe, The Hatch Shell, First Nights in Boston, Hartford, and Worcester, NOW Summit in Washington, D.C., Pride Festivals in San Diego, Baltimore, and Worcester, Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival, MD, Capital Region Guitar Show, Saratoga Springs, NY.
TV and Radio
Live appearances throughout New England, including WGBH-FM, WICN-FM. Composed and recorded theme music for "Barbara...and You," for Leominster Cablevision, as well as other jingles and themes. Former Jazz Coordinator for WCUW-FM, Worcester, MA.
Arts Lottery Grant recipient, award given to worthy artists and composers funded by Massachusetts Arts Lottery.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Don Ross
New fingerstyle instructor Don Ross introduces himself, his background, and what you should expect in this series.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jim Deeming
Jim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer your practicing in the right direction.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jessica Baron
Jessica kindly introduces herself, her background, and her approach to this series.
Free LessonSeries Details
Randall Williams
In this lesson Randall introduces the partial capo (using a short-cut capo by Kyser) and talks about how it can make the...
Free LessonSeries Details
Eve Goldberg
Eve talks about the boom-chuck strum pattern. This strum pattern will completely change the sound of your playing.
Free LessonSeries Details
Freebo
In this lesson, Freebo covers the basics of right hand technique. This lesson is essential for all up and coming bassists.
Free LessonSeries Details
Calum Graham
Award winning, Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham introduces his Jamplay Artist Series, which aims to transform...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mike Dawes
Free LessonSeries Details
David Isaacs
JamPlay welcomes David Isaacs to our teacher roster. With his first lesson Dave explains his approach to playing guitar with...
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Rex Brown
Dive into the playing of Rex Brown. As the bass player for Pantera, Down, and Kill Devil Hill, Brown's real world experience...
Free LessonSeries Details
Kenny Ray
Albert Collins brought a lot of style to the blues scene. In this lesson, Kenny breaks down Albert's style for you to learn.
Free LessonSeries Details
Stuart Ziff
Stuart delves into all the different aspects of how R&B guitar has had an impact within reggae music.
Free LessonSeries Details
Matt Brown
Matt Brown shows off some ways to add some creativity and originality to your rock chord voicings.
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Brennan
Mark Brennan teaches this classic rock song by Jethro Tull. Released on the album of the same name in 1971, this song features...
Free LessonSeries Details
Brent Mason
Learn Nashville style country guitar from one of the most recorded guitarists in history. Check out rhythm grooves, solos,...
Free LessonSeries Details
Jeff Kollman
Been playing the standard 12 bar blues and looking to add some flare? Look no further than Jeff Kollmann's series, "Blowing...
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve Smyth
JamPlay sits down with veteran fret grinder Steve Smyth of Forbidden and The EssenEss Project. He talks about how he got...
Free LessonSeries Details
Horace Bray
Horace provides a short etude on how to practice connecting the different shapes of the G Major open triads. This helps you...
Free LessonSeries Details
John Shannon
Meet John Shannon and his approach to rhythm guitar. John discusses why he put this lesson series together and what his...
Free LessonSeries DetailsJoin over 505320 guitarists who have learned how to play in weeks... not years!
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.Take a minute to compare JamPlay to other traditional and new methods of learning guitar. Our estimates for "In-Person" lessons below are based on a weekly face-to-face lesson for $40 per hour.
 |
||||
| Price Per Lesson | < $0.01 | $4 - $5 | $30 - $50 | Free |
| Money Back Guarantee | Sometimes | n/a | ||
| Number of Instructors | 125 | 1 – 3 | 1 | Zillions |
| Interaction with Instructors | Daily Webcam Sessions | Weekly | ||
| Professional Instructors | Luck of the Draw | Luck of the Draw | ||
| New Lessons | Daily | Weekly | Minutely | |
| Structured Lessons | ||||
| Learn Any Style | Sorta | |||
| Track Progress | ||||
| HD Video | - | Sometimes | ||
| Multiple Camera Angles | Sometimes | - | Sometimes | |
| Accurate Tabs | Maybe | Maybe | ||
| Scale/Chord Libraries | ||||
| Custom JamTracks | ||||
| Interactive Games | ||||
| Community | ||||
| Learn in Sweatpants | Socially Unacceptable | |||
| Gasoline Needed | $0.00 | $0.00 | ~$4 / gallon! | $0.00 |
Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.I'll also add that, although, I don't recommend any one method or theory book over another, I do recommend getting your hands on a fake book, such as the Real Book, and play and read from it a little every day. Practice comping the chords alone, play the melodies alone, try them together, as in a chord solo, and practice improvising over the chord changes. That is the best practice that I know of to get you started playing jazz. Practice with friends or on your own with a recording of yourself playing the chords. To find chords, start with one that you know and then search for and add tensions as you go along. This will get you playing real music in real time and have some fun working through a collection of lead sheets in whatever style and groove you choose.
a fake book such as the real book.....
Here are some books that I recommend checking out: (I think the first two are the most important) Shelton Berg - Jazz Improvisation: The Goal-Note Method (jazz theory) Stan Smith - Jazz Harmony on the Guitar (for chords and comping) William G Leavitt - A Modern Method for Guitar (for basic fundamental guitar skills) William G. Leavitt - Melodic Rhythms for Guitar(for additional reading and performance skills) Anything written by Barry Galbraith Jim Snidero - Jazz Conception (reading and performance skills) Gene Bertoncini - Approaching the Guitar (fundamental guitar skills) Nelson Faria - The Brazilian Guitar Book
thanks Matt I'll check them out.
do you recommend any books that would be of help with these lessons?