Music Theory Question (melodic Minor)
fkalich
Dec 24 2010, 07:54 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 2.789
Joined: 12-February 07
From: People's Republic of Lawrence Kansas
Evenitde has a beta update out now for it's Pitchfactor product (owners of Eventide pedals download these upgrades). Eventide has had a nice harmonizer on it's Pitchfactor pedal, with a learn feature that figures out what key you are playing in, but it had been limited to the basic modal (Major, Minor, etc) scales. One of the nice enhancements has been the addition of a number of other scales, such as harmonic minor, Hungarian, and 4 others.

But I believe there is a problem with the Melodic Minor scale in the harmonizer. Of course a beta is put out there to get feedback so they can correct errors and bugs, and I reported this one. But I am not positive that it is an error, only a person adept in music theory can give me the definitive answer. Can anyone give me that answer? My post to Eventide follows.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This concerns the Melodic Minor. Now let me say first that I am thrilled that the new scales were put in, particularly Harmonic Minor. However it seems that the Melodic Minor is not setting the harmony note correctly for a higher third harmony for one note on that scale.

Let me express myself by example, in the key of C Melodic Minor. For the Bb note (descending), a third is harmonized in the Pitchfactor with C# (or Db, however you want to look at it), i.e. as a minor third above Bb. But Bb is not even in the Melodic Minor scale! I would think that a major third would be appropriate as the higher third harmony note here, i.e. using D.

Perhaps for centuries this is how that note has been harmonized, using a note outside the actual scale, perhaps I am ignorant of that fact, and someone will enlighten me. However I doubt it, I think this is probably a glitch.

C, D, E-flat, F, G, A, B, C (ascending)

C, B-flat, A-flat, G, F, E-flat, D, C (descending)

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
stratman79
Dec 24 2010, 10:18 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 228
Joined: 11-November 09
the melodic which you tale about where it is different assending and desending is the classical variation.

the desending one is basically aeloian or natural minor.

in modern terms you just have the b3 (comparing to the major) and I've always called it the jazz melodic and its the same on the way up and down.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
fkalich
Dec 24 2010, 11:37 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 2.789
Joined: 12-February 07
From: People's Republic of Lawrence Kansas
QUOTE (stratman79 @ Dec 24 2010, 03:18 PM) *
the melodic which you tale about where it is different assending and desending is the classical variation.

the desending one is basically aeloian or natural minor.

in modern terms you just have the b3 (comparing to the major) and I've always called it the jazz melodic and its the same on the way up and down.


True, thanks for your response, but that wasn't my question, perhaps I expressed myself in a clumsy manner.

The Eventide Pitchfactor has a harmonizer for which you can set scalar intervals, and thirds is an interval often used when harmonizing. A scalar true harmonizer when set to thirds will apply either a minor or major third as the harmony note, depending on which primary note of the scale is struck. The Pitchfactor upgrade included harmonizing to the Melodic Minor. But I have found that when thirds are selected, the pedal will harmonize with a minor third against the descending 7th note of the scale. In my example of the key of C Melodic Minor, that would be harmonizing against a Bb with a Db. As that harmony note does not even exist in the scale, I think they have a bug in there upgrade, the harmony note should in that example have been a major 3rd above, D, which does reside in that scale.

But I am aware that this scale has a long tradition in choral music, and perhaps that is just the common practice. I doubt it, I think this is a bug, but I can't be certain. Maybe there is a formally schooled theory person here who would know the answer, or someone who has read a great more on the subject than I have.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


This post has been edited by fkalich: Dec 24 2010, 11:39 PM
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
stratman79
Dec 25 2010, 10:54 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 228
Joined: 11-November 09
sorry I didn't read your post correctly.

There has never been a b2 in the melodic scale, harmonized or otherwise.

As you say I suspect it is a glitch..

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Ivan Milenkovic
Dec 29 2010, 09:32 PM
Instructor
Posts: 25.396
Joined: 20-November 07
From: Belgrade, Serbia
Have you tried emailing them? smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
- Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons
- (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel
- Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 




RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 01:35 PM