

The natural minor scale starting on A is just a C Major scale with a different starting pitch: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.


The minor key area related to a major key in this way is known as the relative minor of the major key you’re using to find it.įor example, the relative minor of C Major is A Minor. To build the natural minor scale, you take the major scale formula but start it on the sixth scale degree (for more on the major scale, check out our article here).īecause of this relationship between major and minor, you can take any major scale and start it on the sixth scale degree of the scale in order to find a natural minor scale. Whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step. The intervals separating the seven scale degrees of the natural minor scale follow the pattern: Each of the minor scales contains the same first five scale degrees, which only leaves scale degrees 6 and 7 to differentiate between the three scales. We will use these numbers to distinguish between the scales.Īnother similarity between each of the three types of minor scales is in the first five pitches. First of all, they are each heptatonic scales, which means that they are each composed of seven distinct pitches before repeating.Įach of these pitches is assigned a number, or scale degree, from 1-7. The three scales that are the focus of this article have a lot in common. Here’s a quick overview of the formulas before diving deeper into each of them individually. The Difference Between Natural, Harmonic & Melodic Minor Oftentimes, when we get stuck on a particular chunk of melody, all it means is that we have chosen the hammer when we needed the saw. Essentially, a scale is just a collection of pitches.Įach scale is curated for a particular purpose, so choosing a scale is like choosing a tool.ĭifferent compositions call for different scales, in the same way that different carpentry projects call for different woodworking tools.
