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The Aeolian dominant scale (Aeolian ♯3 scale), Mixolydian ♭6 scale, descending melodic major scale, or Hindu scale is the fifth mode of the ascending melodic minor scale. It is named Aeolian dominant because its sound derives from having a dominant seventh chord on the tonic in the context of what is otherwise the Aeolian mode.

It corresponds to Raga Charukeshi in Indian Classical music.

This scale can also be obtained by raising the third degree of the natural minor scale or lowering the sixth degree of the mixolydian scale.

Melodic major

The name melodic major refers to the combined scale that proceeds as natural major ascending and as Aeolian dominant descending. It is named melodic major because it closes the augmented second in the harmonic major scale by either sharpening the sixth (ascending) or flattening the seventh (descending).

Songs that use the Aeolian dominant scale

• The Mask of Zorro song "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You", was composed in the Aeolian dominant scale mode. It was written by film composer James Horner.
• Valar Morghulis of the Game of Thrones: Season 2 soundtrack, composed by Ramin Djawadi.

See also

• Backdoor progression

References

1. Wasson, Andrew. "Guitar Theory: The Aeolian Dominant Scale". YouTube. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
2. "The Melodic Scales". www.tonalcentre.org. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
3. Martin, Jean-Baptiste (2018-06-22). "The Words of James Horner #6: The Mask of Zorro". James Horner Film Music. Retrieved 2021-09-28.

• Modes (music)