Natural minor Scales

A minor scale in music theory is generally any scale that includes at least three essential scale degrees: one being the tonic, another at an interval of a minor third above the tonic, and another at an interval of a perfect fifth above the tonic, together composing the tonic minor triad. While this definition encompasses many scales and modes such as Dorian mode and the Phrygian mode, the term in its stricter sense is usually limited to the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, described below, which are in most common use in Western classical music (see major and minor).

Natural minor

The natural minor scale is the sixth mode (or Aeolian mode) of the major scale. For example, the white notes of a keyboard if played from any C continuing up an octave to the next C produce a C major scale. If the white notes are played beginning from the sixth step of that C scale, from any A to an A an octave above, then an A natural minor scale (the "relative minor" of C) is produced.

Harmonic and melodic minor

The above considerations of chordal harmony led to the harmonic minor scale, the same as the natural minor but with a chromatically raised seventh degree.

Harmonic Minor Scale: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 8

For example, in the key of A minor, the harmonic minor scale is:

A B C D E F G♯ A'

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An important characteristic of the harmonic minor scale—in contrast to the natural minor—is its inclusion of two sets of chords whose inversions are structurally identical, and hence have ambiguous tonality. These are the Diminished seventh chord (found on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th degrees) and the Augmented chord (found on the 3rd, 5th and 7th degrees).

The harmonic minor is also occasionally referred to as the Mohammedan scale^[1] as its upper tetrachord corresponds to the Hijaz jins, commonly found in Middle Eastern music. The harmonic minor scale as a whole is described as Nahawand-Hijaz^[2] in Arabic nomenclature, or as Bûselik Hicaz ^[3] in Turkish nomenclature.

The interval between the sixth and seventh degrees of this scale (in this case F and G♯) is an augmented second. While some composers, notably Mozart, have used this interval to advantage in melodic composition, other composers, having felt it to be an awkward leap, particularly in vocal music, considered a whole step between these two scale degrees more conducive to smooth melody writing, so either the subtonic seventh was used or the sixth scale degree raised. Traditionally, music theorists have called these two options the ascending melodic minor scale (also known as heptatonia seconda) and descending melodic minor scale, the ascending being identical in its upper tetrachord to the major scale, and the descending being simply the natural minor:

A B C D E F♯ G♯ A' and then

A' G F E D C B A respectively.

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Composers have not been consistent in using these in ascending and descending melodies. Just as often, composers choose one form or the other based on whether one of the two notes is part of the most recent chord (the prevailing harmony). Particularly, to use the triad of the relative major—which is very common—since this is based on the third degree of the minor scale, the raised seventh degree would cause an augmented triad. Composers thus frequently require the lowered seventh degree found in the natural minor. In jazz, the descending aeolian is usually disregarded altogether.

Finding key signatures

Circle of fifths showing major and minor keys and their signatures

Major and minor keys that share the same signature are called relative; so C major is the relative major of A minor, and C minor is the relative minor of E♭ major. The relative major is a minor third above the tonic of the minor. For example, since the key signature of G major has one sharp (see major scales for how to find this), its relative minor, E minor, also has one sharp in its key signature.

Music may be written in an enharmonic scale (e.g. C♯ minor, which only has four sharps in its key signature, compared to the theoretical eight flats required for D♭ minor). The following are enharmonic equivalents:

Double sharps/double flats can be written as accidentals, but not as part of a key signature. For example:

D♭ Minor Key Signature: E♭ + A♭ + D♭ + G♭ + C♭ + F♭ + B (the B is now double flatted and therefore, notated after the single accidentals, which obviously do not include the B♭)

D♭ Natural Minor = D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B C♭ D♭

D♭ Melodic Minor (Ascending + Descending) = D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ C♭ B A♭ G♭ F♭ E♭ D♭

D♭ Harmonic Minor = D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B C D♭

See also

• Major and minor
• Musical mode
• Diatonic functionality
• Aeolian mode
• Major scale
• Kirwani

References

• Gjerdingen, Robert O. (1990). "A Guide to the Terminology of German Harmony", Studies in the Origin of Harmonic Tonality by Dahlhaus, Carl, trans. Gjerdingen (1990).

External links

• 3 note per string Harmonic Minor scale shapes for guitar in PDF format for easy printing
• Proper fingering of the major and minor scales on the piano
• Listen to and download harmonised minor scale piano MP3s
• Guitar: Harmonic minor scale explored
• The harmonic minor scale on the guitar
• The natural minor scale on the guitar
• The melodic minor scale on the guitar
• Discussing All Musical Scales and Theory