Music Theory - Minor Scales 1/4: Introduction

Hi everyone !

In this new series of 4 new music theory posts, we will talk about minor scales, starting with 3 kind of minor scales. In the next 3 posts, we'll have all of those scales covered.

First, be sure that you fully understand distance between notes. I suggest that you read again this post where I described major scale construction.

Reminder

You remember that a scale is in fact a "recipe".
Here is a reminder of the "major scale recipe" (1 stands for whole-tone, and ½ stands for semi-tone) :

If you fill the first cell with a C you get the C major scale, if you fill it with an E♭, if you fill it with a D you get the D major scale, etc...

Minor scales

Today, I want to introduce 3 scales. Why 3 scales ? I don't want to discuss the historical path that led to the existence of 3 minor scale^[1], so lets just say that in minor contexts, you'll see variations in sixth and seven degrees of the minor scale so often, that musicologists decided to give a name to each one of those 3 common variations.

So let's just assume their existence ...

Natural minor

Here is a new recipe :

What happens if we fill the first cell with a C ?

We now have the C natural minor scale, that is c-d-e♭-f-g-a♭-b♭-c.

What happens if we fill the first cell with a C♯ ?

We now have the C♯ natural minor scale, that is c♯-d♯-e-f♯-g♯-a-b-c♯

You got it ?

Harmonic minor

Here is the harmonic minor scale recipe :

The 1+½ stands for an augmented second (a whole-tone + a semi-tone)

What happens if we fill the first cell with a C ?

We now have the C harmonic minor scale, that is c-d-e♭-f-g-a♭-b-c.

If we fill the first cell with a G, we get this :

That's the G harmonic minor scale, that is g-a-b♭-c-d-e♭-f♯-c.

Melodic minor

Here is the melodic minor scale recipe :

What happens if we fill the first cell with a C ?

We now have the C melodic minor scale, that is c-d-e♭-f-g-a-b-c.

If we fill the first cell with B♭ :

We get the B♭ melodic minor scale, that is b♭-c-d♭-e♭-f-g-a-b♭.

In the next post, I will list the natural minor scales.

See you there !
Sebastien

Articles on this series about minor scales:

• Minor scales 1/4: Introduction
• Minor scales 2/4: List of natural minor scales
• Minor scales 3/4: Harmonic minor scales
• Minor scales 4/4: Melodic minor scales