MINOR SCALES

A minor scale is going to have some of the same principles as a major scale. It still consists of 8 steps, some whole steps and some half step. The formula for a minor scale is: WHWWHWW. Memorize it! I must explain real quick, there are three different types of minor scales, natural, harmonic and melodic. The formula above is for a natural minor scale. I will explain the difference between a natural and harmonic minor scale later. It may be easier to understand a natural minor scale by showing the individual steps of the scale. Remember, there are 8 steps to a scale. 1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8. Steps 3,6,7 are lowered ½ step. You may ask yourself, why does it show a whole step for the last step of the formula. If you remember, on a major scale, step 7 to 8 is only a ½ step. If you lower step 7 by a half what is left is a whole step between the two (just like math 2 halves make a whole).

Let's put what we know to work and construct our natural minor scales.

C minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
D minor scale: D E F G A Bb C D
E minor scale: E F# G A B C D E
F minor scale: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
G minor scale: G A Bb C D Eb F G
A minor scale: A B C D E F G A
B minor scale: B C# D E F# G A B
C# minor scale: C# D# E F# G# A B C#
Eb minor scale: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
F# minor scale: F# G# A B C# D E F#
G# minor scale: G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
Bb minor scale: Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb