Minor Scales

In Music, we have Major Scales and also Minor Scales

There are 3 types of Minor Scales:

1. Natural Minor Scale
2. Harmonic Minor Scale
3. Melodic Minor Scale

In this lesson, we will focus on the Natural Minor Scale. Just as the Major Scale, the Natural Minor Scale also has a formula:

W‑H‑W‑W‑H‑W‑W

However, to simplify things further, please do understand that the natural minor scale is also related to the Major Scale.

Here’s how to derive a Natural Minor Scale from the Major Scale.

STEPS:

1. Pick a random Major Scale (maybe C Major Scale)
2. Look for the Sixth note in that scale (In the Key of C, the 6 is A)
3. Play the Major Scale from the 6 to the 6 in the upper octave.
4. Congrats! You have played a Natural Minor Scale ( “A” Natural Minor Scale to be Precise in key C which is ABCDEFGA )

Drill: Can you verify if we are correct by using the Natural Minor scale formula to find the A natural minor scale? W‑H‑W‑W‑H‑W‑W

In Summary, if you need a specific minor scale ; play the related Major Scale starting from the 6^th tone to the 6^th tone above, you have gotten yourself a Natural Minor Scale.

Natural Minor Scales List

Here’s a list of all the natural minor scales:

A minor
A B C D E F G A

A♯ minor
A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯

B♭ minor
B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭

B minor
B C♯ D E F♯ G A B

C minor
C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C

C♯ minor
C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B C♯

D minor
D E F G A B♭ C D

D♯ minor
D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯

E♭ minor
E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭

E minor
E F♯ G A B C D E

F minor
F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F

F♯ minor
F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E F♯

G minor
G A B♭ C D E♭ F G

G♯ minor
G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯

A♭ minor
A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭

Happy Practicing!