Melodic Minor vs Dorian
The C melodic minor and the C dorian share 6 notes — C, D, Eb, F, G, A. From there, the C melodic minor adds B, while the C dorian adds Bb.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Melodic Minor and root of C Dorian), D3 (2 of C Melodic Minor and 2 of C Dorian), Eb3 (flat 3 of C Melodic Minor and flat 3 of C Dorian), F3 (4 of C Melodic Minor and 4 of C Dorian), G3 (5 of C Melodic Minor and 5 of C Dorian), A3 (6 of C Melodic Minor and 6 of C Dorian), Bb3 (flat 7), B3 (7), C4 (root of C Melodic Minor and root of C Dorian), D4 (2 of C Melodic Minor and 2 of C Dorian), Eb4 (flat 3 of C Melodic Minor and flat 3 of C Dorian), F4 (4 of C Melodic Minor and 4 of C Dorian), G4 (5 of C Melodic Minor and 5 of C Dorian), A4 (6 of C Melodic Minor and 6 of C Dorian), Bb4 (flat 7), B4 (7), C5 (root of C Melodic Minor and root of C Dorian).
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Melodic Minor | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
| Dorian | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · b7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Melodic Minor | In Dorian |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| Eb | b3 | b3 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| A | 6 | 6 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the melodic minor: B (7)
- Only in the dorian: Bb (b7)