NATURAL MINOR SCALES

Minor scales can be:  

• Natural minor scales

• Harmonic minor scales

• Melodic minor scales 

First, we shall examine natural minor scales. The other two can be created from natural minor scales by raising their seventh and sixth scale degrees. Soon, we shall explain them too. 

All natural minor scales have the same structure which is defined by the list of the major and minor seconds: M2, m2, M2, M2, m2, M2 and M2. The last major second leads us to the tonic again, only now it is one octave higher. We see that natural minor scales have the subtonic.

Examples of natural minor scales

We can easily write any natural minor scale by applying the structure of minor scales, starting from a chosen tonic. The next figure shows the A natural minor scale, together with the major and minor seconds from the structure of natural minor scales. 

Figure: The A natural minor scale

Next, we shall show examples of the natural minor scales containing the notes with sharps (from one to four sharps) followed by the natural minor scales containing the notes with flats (from one to four flats). 

The next figure shows the E natural minor scale. As we can see, the E natural minor scale differs from the A natural minor scale only by having the note name F# instead of F.

Figure: The E natural minor scale

The next figure shows the B natural minor scale. It differs from the E natural minor scale only by having the note name C# instead of C.

Figure: The B natural minor scale

The next figure shows the F# natural minor scale. It differs from the B natural minor scale only by having the note name G# instead of G.

Figure: The F# natural minor scale

The next figure shows the C# natural minor scale. If differs from the F# natural minor scale only by having the note name D# instead of the note name D.

Figure: The C# natural minor scale

The next figure shows the D natural minor scale. As we can see the D natural minor scale differs from the A natural minor scale only by having the note name Bb instead of the note name B.

Figure: The D natural minor scale

The next figure shows the G natural minor scale. It differs from the D natural minor scale only by having the note name Eb instead of the note name E.

Figure: The G natural minor scale

The next figure shows the C natural minor scale. It differs from the G natural minor scale only by having the note name Ab instead of the note name A.

Figure: The C natural minor scale

The next figure shows the F natural minor scale. It differs from the C natural minor scale only by having the note name Db instead of the D.

Figure: The F natural minor scale

Again, we have not written all the natural minor scales but the ones just enough to start with.

If we compare the major and natural minor scales that we have written down, we can conclude the following: 

• The C major scale and the A natural minor scale use the same note names

• The G major scale and the E natural minor scale use the same note names

• The D major scale and the B natural minor scale use the same note names

• The A major scale and the F# natural minor scale use the same note names

• The E major scale and the C# natural minor scale use the same note names

• The F major scale and the D natural minor scale use the same note names

• The Bb major scale and the G natural minor scale use the same note names 

• The Eb major scale and the C natural minor scale use the same note names

• The Ab major scale and the F natural minor scale use the same note names

This is not a coincidence. For each major scale, there exists one natural minor scale that uses the same note names. Also, for each natural minor scale, there exists one major scale that uses the same note names. This will be further examined in chapter Relative and parallel keys.