Lesson 3 — Minor Scales

The minor scales

Every major scale has a relative minor that shares its key signature but centers on a different tonic: the 6th degree of the major. C major and A minor, for example, use exactly the same notes.

In the video you will meet the three forms of the minor scale (natural, harmonic and melodic), hear how each one sounds, and see why the melodic minor comes down differently from the way it goes up.

Exercise

Play the 15 minor keys in this order:

• Sharps: A · E · B · F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯ · A♯ minor
• Flats: D · G · C · F · B♭ · E♭ · A♭ minor

For each key, on a single channel (Soprano): natural minor ascending (8 notes), harmonic minor ascending (8), melodic minor ascending (8) and melodic minor descending (7). That is 31 notes per key.

Watch the spelling: each degree uses its own letter (in A harmonic minor the 7th degree is G♯, not A♭). Export the MIDI file and upload it to the Virtual Teacher.