There are three types of minor scales natural, harmonic, and melodic. Minor scales tend to sound more “sad” than major scales.

Natural Minor:

The natural minor scale can be thought of as a major scale with the 3rd 6th and 7th notes lowered by one half step. By altering these notes we also change the intervals which make up the scale.

This is a good time to learn about the phrase “relative minor”. The G major scale has one sharp in it’s key signature, the same goes for the E minor scale. Because they share the same key signature E minor is the relative minor of G major. Bear with me here; if you start a G major scale on E and end on E you have the E natural minor scale. This can be useful when figuring out key signatures, if you know all of your major key signatures then you automatically know all of your minor key signatures as well.

Harmonic Minor:

The harmonic minor scale is just like the natural minor only without the lowered 7th. Now, in this case the C harmonic minor scale, the B natural acts as a leading tone up to the C and emphasises it as a final note. Also, you’ll notice scale has an exotic sound, particularly between the Ab and B. The most common use of the harmonic minor scale presents itself in chord progressions in a minor key. Just think of the harmonic minor being used for it’s harmonic functions. To learn how it’s implemented check out the chords section.

Melodic Minor:

The melodic minor scale, as it’s name implies, is used mainly in melodic lines. What’s interesting about this scale is that it’s different going up than it is coming down. In it’s acending form the only lowered note is the 3rd. As it decends, it’s a plain old natural minor scale; a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th. Notice that when you play the full scale, on the way up it feels like it is pulling towards the top C, in this case. As it goes down it pulls back down to the bottom C.

»Pentatonic Scales