The A minor scales The scale with three formats

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Introducing minor scales

Time to tackle this new type of scale

The most important type of scale to learn next is the minor scale. Unlike the major scale, the minor scale comes in three different formats: the natural minor, the harmonic minor and the melodic minor. This means that for any given minor scale, there is not one pattern to master, but three. Don’t worry if this sounds daunting as the three different formats are all centred on the same series of notes; they just have slight variations which are useful to learn and understand. With a little bit of practice you will soon be adept at playing all three types of minor scale.

The A minor scale is the equivalent to the C major scale because it has no sharps or flats. In musical terms, this is referred to as the relative scale (eg A is the relative minor to C, or C is the relative major to A). Therefore, A minor is the obvious choice as an introduction. You can find a major key’s relative minor by counting three semitones lower (A is three semitones lower than C).

As already noted, there are three different kinds of minor scale. The natural minor is the foundation scale, sharing the exact same set of notes as its relative major (C), but starting and ending on A rather than C (A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A). The harmonic minor has only one alteration: the seventh note (in this case, a G) is raised a semitone higher and is replaced with G#. In the melodic minor, both the sixth and the seventh note are raised but then lowered again during the descent.

The A natural minor scale

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

01 The right hand

Place your thumb on the A key located six keys above middle C. Follow the same fingering pattern used for C major, playing the notes A-B-C-D-E-F-G and A. You will discover that this scale sounds very different to a major.

02 Left hand and hands together

After ascending and descending with your right hand, do the same with the left. Start on the A key situated an octave lower down and follow the C major fingering pattern with the A minor notes. Now try hands together!

The A harmonic minor scale

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

03 Raising the seventh note

Follow the steps for the natural minor. The only change is to raise the seventh note, replacing the G with a G#. You will notice an increased intensity.

The A melodic minor scale

04 Practising the scale

Play the A natural minor and A harmonic minor with the right hand to understand the difference. Do the same with the left hand and hands together.

05 Raising notes in the ascending scale

A melodic minor has the same fingering pattern as A natural minor. The change is to raise the sixth and the seventh notes, giving us: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A.

06 Lowering the notes on descent

When descending, the two notes that were raised are now lowered back to their naturals or white keys, making the descent the same as A natural minor.