what combination of steps makes up a minor scale
The steps that make up a minor scale are as follows:
1. Start with the first note of the major scale (also called the tonic).
2. Move up a whole step (two half steps) to the second note of the scale.
3. Move up a half step to the third note of the scale.
4. Move up a whole step to the fourth note of the scale.
5. Move up a whole step to the fifth note of the scale.
6. Move up a half step to the sixth note of the scale.
7. Move up a whole step to the seventh note of the scale.
8. Finally, move up a half step from the seventh note to return to the tonic.
This pattern of steps creates a minor scale.
To form a natural minor scale, you can follow these steps:
1. Begin with the major scale of the same root note. For example, to create the A natural minor scale, start with the A major scale (A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#).
2. Lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes of the major scale by a half step (or one semitone). In the case of the A major scale, the 3rd note is C#, the 6th note is F#, and the 7th note is G#. So, you lower C# to C, F# to F, and G# to G.
3. The resulting combination of notes gives you the A natural minor scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). This is also known as the relative minor scale of C major.
It's important to note that there are different variations of the minor scale, including harmonic minor and melodic minor. These variations involve altering additional notes to create different musical effects.
To understand the combination of steps that make up a minor scale, let's start with some basic concepts. A minor scale is a musical scale that has a specific pattern of intervals, or steps, between its notes. There are three types of minor scales: natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor.
1. Natural Minor Scale: The natural minor scale follows a specific pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H). The pattern for a natural minor scale is as follows:
whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - half step - whole step - whole step
For example, in the key of A minor, the notes would be A-B-C-D-E-F-G.
2. Harmonic Minor Scale: The harmonic minor scale shares the same pattern as the natural minor scale, but with one modification. In the harmonic minor scale, the seventh note is raised by a half step. The pattern for a harmonic minor scale is as follows:
whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - half step - augmented second - half step
For example, in the key of A harmonic minor, the notes would be A-B-C-D-E-F-G♯.
3. Melodic Minor Scale: The melodic minor scale has a different pattern for ascending and descending. When ascending, it follows the natural minor scale pattern. However, when descending, it uses the natural minor scale pattern. The pattern for a melodic minor scale is as follows:
ascending: whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - whole step - whole step - half step
descending: natural minor scale pattern (same as the natural minor scale mentioned earlier)
For example, in the key of A melodic minor, when ascending, the notes would be A-B-C-D-E-F♯-G♯, and when descending, the notes would be A-G-F-E-D-C-B-A.
So, to summarize:
- Natural minor scale: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
- Harmonic minor scale: W-H-W-W-H-aug2-H
- Melodic minor scale (ascending): W-H-W-W-W-W-H
- Melodic minor scale (descending): natural minor scale pattern
By following these specific patterns of steps, you can construct different types of minor scales in any key.