In the melodic minor scale, what happens when ascending and descending?

In the melodic minor scale, what happens when ascending and descending?

• A. It ascending raises the sixth and seventh degrees; descending reverts to natural minor
• B. It ascending uses the major scale notes; descending uses the natural minor
• C. It ascending raises the sixth and seventh degrees; descending lowers the sixth and seventh degrees
• D. It ascends with no raised degrees; descends with raised degrees

Answer: (C)

The melodic minor scale changes with direction: when you go up, the sixth and seventh degrees are raised by a half step to create brighter ascent and stronger leading tones to the tonic. For example, in A minor the ascending form is A B C D E F# G# A. When you descend, you revert to the natural minor, lowering those same degrees back, giving A G F E D C B A. This combination—raised 6th and 7th on the way up, natural minor on the way down—matches the described option.

The melodic minor scale changes with direction: when you go up, the sixth and seventh degrees are raised by a half step to create brighter ascent and stronger leading tones to the tonic. For example, in A minor the ascending form is A B C D E F# G# A. When you descend, you revert to the natural minor, lowering those same degrees back, giving A G F E D C B A. This combination—raised 6th and 7th on the way up, natural minor on the way down—matches the described option.