• While there is only one major scale, three different variations of the minor scale exist.
  • The first minor scale that will we discuss is natural minor. It is constructed with this formula.
  • Let's build an A Natural Minor Scale. Our starting note will be A.
  • From A, we take a whole step to B.
  • From A, we take a whole tone to B.
  • Next, we take a half step to C.
  • Next, we take a semitone to C.
  • From C, a whole step takes us to D.
  • From C, a whole tone takes us to D.
  • Another whole step takes us to E.
  • Another whole tone takes us to E.
  • From E, we go up a half step to F.
  • From E, we go up a semitone to F.
  • From F, a whole step takes us to G.
  • From F, a whole tone takes us to G.
  • Finally, the last whole step returns us to A.
  • Finally, the last whole tone returns us to A.
  • A Natural Minor is: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
  • Notice that the A Natural Minor Scale has no notes with accidentals.
  • Let's build an G# Natural Minor Scale. Our starting note will be G#.
  • From G#, we take a whole step to A#.
  • From G#, we take a whole tone to A#.
  • Next, we take a half step to B.
  • Next, we take a semitone to B.
  • From B, a whole step takes us to C#.
  • From B, a whole tone takes us to C#.
  • Another whole step takes us to D#.
  • Another whole tone takes us to D#.
  • From D#, we go up a half step to E.
  • From D#, we go up a semitone to E.
  • From E, a whole step takes us to F#.
  • From E, a whole tone takes us to F#.
  • Finally, the last whole step returns us to G#.
  • Finally, the last whole tone returns us to G#.
  • G# Natural Minor is: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#.
  • Notice that the G# Natural Minor Scale has five sharps.
  • Next, we will construct the C Natural Minor Scale. Our starting note will be C.
  • The whole step takes us to D.
  • The whole tone takes us to D.
  • From D, a half step takes us to Eb.
  • From D, a semitone takes us to Eb.
  • The following whole step takes us to F.
  • The following whole tone takes us to F.
  • From F, a whole step takes us to G.
  • From F, a whole tone takes us to G.
  • The half step from G takes us to Ab.
  • The semitone from G takes us to Ab.
  • From Ab, we take a whole step to Bb.
  • From Ab, we take a whole tone to Bb.
  • The final whole step returns us to C.
  • The final whole tone returns us to C.
  • C natural minor is: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
  • Notice that the C Natural Minor Scale has three flats.
  • Next, we will discuss harmonic minor.
  • To convert any natural minor scale into harmonic minor, raise the seventh note by a half step.
  • To convert any natural minor scale into harmonic minor, raise the seventh note by a semitone.
  • Let's convert C Natural Minor into C Harmonic Minor.
  • Simply raise the seventh note (Bb) by a half step, resulting in B.
  • Simply raise the seventh note (Bb) by a semitone, resulting in B.
  • C harmonic minor is: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B.
  • Finally, we will discuss melodic minor.
  • To convert a natural minor scale into melodic minor, raise both the sixth and seventh notes by a half step.
  • To convert a natural minor scale into melodic minor, raise both the sixth and seventh notes by a semitone.
  • For example, to convert C Natural Minor into C Melodic Minor, simply raise the Ab and Bb a half step to A and B.
  • For example, to convert C Natural Minor into C Melodic Minor, simply raise the Ab and Bb a semitone to A and B.
  • C melodic minor is: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B.
  • Usually, melodic minor is used only when ascending.
  • When descending, composers prefer to use the natural minor scale.
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