Learning about Minor Scales
In classical Western music, half steps and whole steps (which are equal to two half steps) are the building blocks of scales. In other words, scales are particular patterns of half steps and whole steps. The Major Scale was discussed in a previous post. Today's post will look at the Minor Scales.
There is one major scale—one specific pattern of whole and half steps—but there are actually three variations of the minor scale. Before composers began writing music in major and minor, music was written in modes. Later, two of these modes became what we now call the major scale (from the Ionian mode) and natural minor scale (from the Aeolian mode).
There is one major scale—one specific pattern of whole and half steps—but there are actually three variations of the minor scale. Before composers began writing music in major and minor, music was written in modes. Later, two of these modes became what we now call the major scale (from the Ionian mode) and natural minor scale (from the Aeolian mode).
All the variations of the minor scale share the same "lowered third". In the minor scale, the third note of the scale is a half step lower than it is in the major scale. This contributes to its characteristic minor sound, which may be described as sad, scary, creepy, melancholic, etc. Whereas a major scale could be described as having a brighter, sunnier sound.
The natural minor scale is what you get if you begin on an A on the piano and play all the white keys (as though you are in C major). A minor is called the "relative" to C major because they both use the same key signature. The pattern of whole and half steps is below. Like major scales, minor scales can be played beginning on any key. A Minor is used here as an example.
The natural minor scale is what you get if you begin on an A on the piano and play all the white keys (as though you are in C major). A minor is called the "relative" to C major because they both use the same key signature. The pattern of whole and half steps is below. Like major scales, minor scales can be played beginning on any key. A Minor is used here as an example.
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The harmonic minor scale is a slight variation of the natural minor scale. The seventh degree of the scale is raised a half step to make a "leading" tone. This raised note "leads" your ear to the tonic, which is the next and final note in the scale. The tonic names the scale. For example, in A Harmonic Minor, the G would be raised a half step to a G# which leads the listener's ear to the A, the tonic (or home) note of the scale.
The melodic minor scale is another variation of the natural minor scale.
In this scale the sixth and the seventh degrees of the ascending scale are raised a half step to make the scale sound more melodic. The descending scale is the same as in the natural minor.
Click here to watch Liberty Park Music's YouTube video about natural minor scales and hear some examples of songs written in a minor key.
Click here to read more about key signatures and see a list of the major and relative minor key signatures from Piano Keyboard Guide.
Watch this video from Vinheteiro to hear what some of your favorite songs would sound like in a minor key.
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