The Minor Scale

Class 1:
 The Major Scale

W W H
H W
W W
Going from Major to Minor
Starting from the old
starting pitch, let's count
back three pitches

3 2 1
A B C
The Minor Scale
 The Natural Minor Scale

W W
W H
W
W H
 Terms
Natural Minor: minor scale with no extra raised or
lowered tones, completely follows the key signature

Relative Major/Minor: Major and minor keys who

share the same key signature

Parallel Major/Minor: Major and minor keys who

share the same starting pitch
What is D Major's relative minor?
What is D Major's relative minor?

3 2 1
B C D
What is D Major's relative minor?
Remember to stop and start
on the same pitch!

b (natural) minor
What is Gb Major's relative minor?
What is Gb Major's relative minor?

3 2 1
Eb F Gb
What is Gb Major's relative minor?
Make sure to check the key
signature to get the new
starting pitch!

eb (natural) minor
Let's listen to some Major vs.
Natural Minor scales!
Class 2:
Review: How do we find a Major
key's relative minor?
What is A Major's relative minor?
What is A Major's relative minor?

3 2 1
F# G# A
What is A Major's relative minor?

f# (natural) minor
What is Bb Major's relative minor?
What is Gb Major's relative minor?

3 2 1
G A Bb
What is Bb Major's relative minor?

g (natural) minor
What are the other minor
scales?
The Minor Scale
 Terms

Harmonic Minor: minor scale with raised 7th pitch

(all other pitches stay the same!)
 Constructing Harmonic Minor

7 8
5 6
4
3
2
1
 What is B Harmonic Minor?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 Terms

Melodic Minor: minor scale with raised 6th and 7th

pitches when the scale is ascending (all other pitches
stay the same!). When the scale descends, the 6th
and 7th pitches are lowered.
 Constructing Melodic Minor

7 8
5 6
4
3
2
1
 Constructing Melodic Minor

8 7 6 5 4
3
2
1
 What is Eb Melodic Minor?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 What is Eb Melodic Minor?

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Let's listen to some of the
different minor scales!
Class 3:
Review: What are the three
minor scales?
 Terms
Natural Minor: minor scale with no raised or lowered
pitches (completely follows the key signature)
Harmonic Minor: minor scale with raised 7th pitch (all
other pitches stay the same!)
Melodic Minor: minor scale with raised 6th and 7th pitches
when the scale is ascending (all other pitches stay the
same!). When the scale descends, the 6th and 7th pitches
are lowered.
 What is Bb Harmonic Minor?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 What is D Melodic Minor?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 What is D Melodic Minor?

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Recognizing Minor Key
Signatures
 Recognizing Major Key Signatures

One Way:
Picturing the
Circle of 5ths
 Recognizing Major Key Signatures

Another way:
Sharp Key
Rule

Look to the last

sharp and go up
one note to
determine the
key!
 Recognizing Major Key Signatures

Another way:
Flat Key Rule

Look to the
second to last
flat to
determine the
key!
 Recognizing Minor Key Signatures

Once you know

the Major Key,
count backwards
three pitches to
determine the
minor key!

C#←D#←E
 Recognizing Minor Key Signatures

Once you know

the Major Key,
count backwards
three pitches to
determine the
minor key!

Eb←F←Gb
Let's practice recognizing
minor key signatures!
To be continued...