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Minor scales are sometimes said to have a more interesting, exotic sound than plain major scales. There are two main types: melodic melodic and harmonic monic scales. |
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Minor scales are sometimes said to have a more interesting, possibly sadder sound than plain major scales. |
Constructing minor scales |
Constructing and recognising minor scales ==Finding key signatures === Like major scales, minors are named after their tonic (first) note. However unlike majors, minor scales do not have their own set of key signatures. Instead it is necessary to use the key signature of a minor's relative major scale. The relative major is found augmenting the minor tonic note by 3 semitones; for example the relative major of E minor is G major. We know that the key signature of G major is two sharps (see major scales for how to find this,) therefore E minor also has two sharps in its key signature. This table illustrates the relative major key signatures for minor scales. Key Sig. Major Scale Minor Scale 0# - C major - A minor 1# - G major - E minor 2# - D major - D minor 3# - A major - F# minor 4# - E major - C# minor 5# - B major - G# minor 6# - F# major - D# minor 1b - F major - D minor 2b - Bb major - G minor 3b - Eb major - C minor 4b - Ab major - F minor 5b - Db major - Bb minor 6b - Gb major - Eb minor Melodic minor scalesScales produced from just using the key signature of the relative major are called natural minors. There are two, more common, types of minor scale: melodic melodic scales and harmonic minor scales. The melodic minors are constructed by sharpening the 6th and 7th degrees of the ascending scale, but not sharpening these notes on the descending scale. Harmonic minor scalesHarmonic minors are constructed by sharpening the 7th degree of the scale both ascending and descending. |
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Unlike major scales, the name of a minor scale doesn't correlate exactly with its key note (starting note.) Instead this is a 6th below the note given in the name; for example a E minor scale starts on a G. |
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