Minor scale

In western classical music theory, the minor scale refers to three scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending).[1]

 { 
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 7/4
  c4^\markup { C natural minor scale } d es f g aes bes c2
  }
}
 {
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 7/4 
  c4^\markup { C harmonic minor scale } d es f g aes b!? c2
  }
}
 {
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 7/4
  c4^\markup { C melodic minor scale } d es f g a!? b!?
  c bes aes g f es d
  c2
  }
}

These scales contain all three notes of a minor triad: the root, a minor third (rather than the major third, as in a major triad or major scale), and a perfect fifth (rather than the diminished fifth, as in a diminished scale or half diminished scale).

Minor scale is also used to refer to other scales with this property,[2] such as the Dorian mode or the minor pentatonic scale (see other minor scales below).

  1. ^ Kostka, Stefan; Payne, Dorothy (2004). Tonal Harmony (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 12. ISBN 0-07-285260-7.
  2. ^ Prout, Ebenezer (1889). Harmony: Its Theory and Practice, pp. 15, 74, London, Augener.