Your Guide to Minor Scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic
Knowing your scales is important for being able to gain a deeper understanding of music theory – and becoming more comfortable in your overall musical playing ability. In fact, scales are part of the foundation of becoming a musician.
Most people tend to focus on Major scales. These are your most common scales and they tend to always sound vibrant and sweet. However, minor scales are just as important — and should also be included in your lessons.
Today, let’s take a look at minor scales and learn about what they are, as well as the 3 types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic scales are.
The Minor Scale: What is It?
The typical minor scale is a musical scale that contains 7 notes. It has a flat third (also known as a minor third scale degree). This means that the 3rd note of the scale is flattened, or one semitone or half step lowered.
It is often the flat third notes fault as to why minor scales have the reputation that they do. See, most people who hear minor scales are quick to say that they have a dark, unpleasant, or sad tone. They aren’t the most pleasing sounds to the ears – and they can even sound eerie.
A Deeper Look at Flattened Thirds
Since the flat third is the key identifier when it comes to minor scales, it seems logical to spend a moment looking a bit deeper as to what they are.
Simply put, a flat note happens when you lower it by one note. The minor third is always one note lower than the major third. Here’s where many people get confused. Because it is called a flat third, most assume the note itself is a flat, such as B-flat, A-flat, etc. However, that’s not the case at all. Rather, it is a half step lower than the third in the major chord. This means it can be a natural note, a flat note, or even a sharp note.
Minor Scales vs. Major Scales: What’s the Difference?
No matter how deep you are into your musical journey, you have likely heard of major scales – and you have likely heard a major scale or two. Minor scales tend to come a little bit later, as they aren’t as well-received by the ears of new musicians, but they are vital to understanding music and becoming a better musician. And they play a very important role in music as we hear it today.
So, what’s the difference between the two?
Primarily it is that flattened third. Major scales have a major (or natural) third – and they sound really good. Minor scales always have that one note – that third – that clearly sets them apart.
Further, every relative major key has the same key signature as natural minor scale. As an example, you will see below that the relative minor of G major is the same as E minor.
- E-minor: E – F# – G – A – B – C – D – E
- G-major: G – A – B – C – D – E – F# – G
The Three Types of Minor Scales
There are three types of minor scales that you should be aware of – especially if you are working your music theory muscle. Each offers you a slightly different sound from the next, but they all have one thing in common. Can you guess what it is?
That’s right – each of the three types of minor scales has a flattened third.
The Natural Minor Scale
When referring to a minor scale in a general sense, sort of lumping them all together, this is the scale you will get – the natural minor scale. This follows closely with the major scale but has that half step up rather than a whole. The sixth and sevenths are flat, too. Here is what it looks like:
| First | The Scales’s Root |
| Second | Whole Step |
| Flat third | Half Step |
| Fourth | Whole Step |
| Fifth | Whole Step |
| Flat Sixth | Half Step |
| Flat Seventh | Whole Step |
The Harmonic Minor Scale
The harmonic minor scale has a raised seventh. While the natural minor scale has a flat seventh, this harmonic scale has a natural seventh. And you can hear the difference – as the ending tone becomes the leading tone, which is what you find in major scales. Let’s look at an example:
- E-minor: E – F# – G – A – B – C – D – E
- E harmonic minor: E – F# – G – A – B – C – D# – E
The Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale is unlike any other scale. That’s because its notes will change depending on which way it’s moving. When a melodic minor scale is ascending (or going up) it has the flat third that is a characteristic of the natural minor scale – and then all the notes from the major scale. But, coming down is a bit different. The melodic minor scale is exactly the same as a natural minor scale. Here’s an example for you:
- Ascending: E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D# – E
- Descending: E – D – C – B – A – G – F# – E
How You Can Learn Your Minor Scales
Learning scales should always be a part of music education. The more you practice them, the more you will play your instrument with ease and have an understanding of how each piece of sheet music fits together.
Set aside time each day to practice your scales. Writing each one out as you go along will help you to better retain them in your memory.
As you can tell, minor scales are a bit different than major scales and they come in a variety of sounds. They can bring a uniqueness to your music by adding depth that happy-go-lucky major chords just can’t bring.
While you have likely spent a lot of time learning about major scales, it is important to focus on minor scales, too. By practicing regularly and learning the characteristics of these scales – the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor – you will be able to have a greater understanding as to how they work and how to figure out each based on the above characteristics.
Remember, look for the flat third – that’s what sets the minors away from the majors.