Natural Minor Scales - The Other Side of Piano Scales
When most people think about
piano scales, they're usually thinking about the majors
scales. But there is another side to this musical story:
natural minor scales. Fortunately, if you know
all twelve major scales, learning the natural minor
scales will be easy!
To form a natural minor scale, you simply use this
pattern:
- whole-step
- half-step
- whole-step
-
whole-step
- half-step
- whole-step
-
whole-step
In the above example, the Natural minor scale is A
Minor. But by using this pattern, you can construct
natural minor scales from any point on the piano.
The Major and Minor Scale Relationship
Did you notice that the natural A minor scale is like a
shifted C Major scale? Well, that's no accident...
Did you know that the major and minor scales are related?
No, not like you cousin Bob. They are related in that you
can find the relative minor scale of any major scale
simply by locating the sixth note (or degree) in that
major scale.
For example in the C major scale, the sixth note is A
(C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C); therefore the relative minor scale
for C major is...drum roll, please...A Minor.
Ok...Your turn, what's the relative of the G major
scale...E Minor!
There you have it. The natural minor scales in a familiar
nutshell |
