the minor scales
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
www.musictheory.net/lessons/22 1/18
The Minor Scalesprinted from www.musictheory.net
While there is only one major scale, three different variations of the minor scaleexist.
The first minor scale that will we discuss is natural minor. It is constructed withthis formula.
Let's build an A Natural Minor Scale. Our starting note will be A.
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
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From A, we take a whole step to B.
Next, we take a half step to C.
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From C, a whole step takes us to D.
Another whole step takes us to E.
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From E, we go up a half step to F.
From F, a whole step takes us to G.
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Finally, the last whole step returns us to A.
A Natural Minor is: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
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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#.
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
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From G#, we take a whole step to A#.
Next, we take a half step to B.
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From B, a whole step takes us to C#.
Another whole step takes us to D#.
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From D#, we go up a half step to E.
From E, a whole step takes us to F#.
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Finally, the last whole step returns us to G#.
G# Natural Minor is: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#.
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
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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.
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
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The whole step takes us to D.
From D, a half step takes us to Eb.
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The following whole step takes us to F.
From F, a whole step takes us to G.
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The half step from G takes us to Ab.
From Ab, we take a whole step to Bb.
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The final whole step returns us to C.
C natural minor is: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb.
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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 noteby a half step.
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Let's convert C Natural Minor into C Harmonic Minor.
Simply raise the seventh note (Bb) by a half step, 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 andseventh notes by a half step.
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11/19/13 The Minor Scales
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For example, to convert C Natural Minor into C Melodic Minor, simply raise theAb and Bb a half step 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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