The discussion on the topic of scales is a very enormous one and it would be rather easy to divide scales into topics. That is why I have posted different subdivisions of the topic on scales to let the students or any reader of this blog to understand it better. Now we will dive deeper and deeper into the world of scales, and this time, the minor scales.


The Minor Scale
 - this is another type of diatonic scale. One characteristic of a minor scale that distinguishes it from a major scale is the feeling of melancholy or sadness.

- minor scales tend to invoke sad feelings while major scales do the opposite.


  The 3 types of Minor Scales
- no need to memorize another set of formulas for this scale, we only need to alter the major scale and that's it.

Natural Minor Scale 

- this is composed of 7 unique pitches and each pitch is separated by whole steps except for the second and third degree and the fifth to the sixth degree.

- another approach of constructing this scale is by using the major scale formula but only start at the 6th degree and you will have a natural minor scale!


















Listen to the A Natural Minor Scale on the piano


Listen to the A Natural Minor Scale on the guitar




Watch how the A natural minor scale is used in this old christmas tune.





Harmonic Minor Scale


- this scale is different from the natural minor scale because it has a raised 7th degree, or a sharp 7th degree

- this gives the 7th degree a thrust towards the tonic of the scale, thus, making the distance between the 6th and 7th degree a step and a half.


















Listen to the A Harmonic Minor Scale on the piano and the guitar



This is an excerpt from Mozart's Sonata in A minor, K 310, III, mm 1-8



The Melodic Minor Scale


- this scale appears in two forms, the ascending form is different from the descending form
- its ascending form has a raised 6th and 7th degree while its descending form is exactly like the natural minor











Listen to how a melodic minor sounds like (nylon guitar)







This is an example of how the melodic minor is used in a melody from Soar Upward to thy God



From Lord Jesus Christ Thou Highest God




This a picture showing the summary of how the 3 types of minor scales look like on A minor. You can transpose it in other keys just to keep you guys thinking.