Natural Minor Scales

The Minor Sound

Welcome to the Intermediate level. You have mastered major scales; now it is time to explore their darker counterpart: minor scales. The natural minor scale follows the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W (Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole).

Building a Natural Minor Scale

Start from A and follow the W-H-W-W-H-W-W pattern: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A. Notice this uses only white keys — identical to C major but starting on A. This is because A minor is the relative minor of C major. Every natural minor scale shares the same notes as its relative major, just starting on a different note (the 6th degree of the major scale).

Common Natural Minor Scales

• A minor: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A (no sharps/flats)
• D minor: D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C-D (1 flat)
• E minor: E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E (1 sharp)

Exercise 1: A Minor Scale

Play A natural minor one octave, hands separate (RH: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5, LH: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1). Compare its sound to C major — same notes, completely different mood.

Exercise 2: E Minor and D Minor

Learn E minor and D minor, hands separate. Notice how each minor scale has the same key signature as its relative major (E minor = G major, D minor = F major).