Handout 6: Minor Scales

What You’ll Learn:

The difference between major and minor (happy vs. sad sound)

What a relative minor is and how to find it

The three types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic

How to play A minor, D minor, and E minor scales

Correct fingerings for each scale

Major = Bright, Minor = Dark

In Handout 5, you learned that major scales have a bright, happy, resolved sound. Minor scales have a different character — they sound darker, sadder, more emotional, or mysterious.

Try this experiment on your CT-X9000IN:

Play C-D-E-F-G (the beginning of C major). Notice the cheerful sound.
Now play A-B-C-D-E (the beginning of A minor). Notice the more somber, reflective quality.

Neither sound is “better” — they are just different moods. Major is sunshine; minor is moonlight. Most Bollywood sad songs, emotional ballads, and dramatic film scores lean heavily on minor keys.

Relative Minor: Every Major Scale Has a Partner

Here is a powerful shortcut: every major scale has a relative minor that uses the exact same notes. The only difference is which note you treat as “home.”

The relative minor starts on the 6th note of the major scale. Count up 6 notes from the start of any major scale, and that is the starting note of its relative minor.

C major: C-D-E-F-G-**A**-B-C → The 6th note is **A** → Relative minor = **A minor**

This means A minor uses exactly the same keys as C major (all white keys) — it just starts and ends on A instead of C:

   C major:  C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C  (all white keys)
   A minor:  A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A  (all white keys)

Same keys, different starting point, completely different emotional sound. This is one of the most elegant facts in music theory.

Other common relative pairs:

G major → E minor (both use F#)
F major → D minor (both use Bb)
D major → B minor (both use F# and C#)

The Three Types of Minor Scales

Unlike major scales (which have only one form), minor scales come in three varieties. Each has a slightly different sound and use. Do not let this intimidate you — start with natural minor and add the others gradually.

1. Natural Minor Scale

The natural minor simply uses the notes of the relative major starting from the 6th degree. No changes, no extras.

Formula: W-H-W-W-H-W-W (Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole)

Compare this to major (W-W-H-W-W-W-H). The half steps land in different places, which is what creates the darker sound.

2. Harmonic Minor Scale

The harmonic minor takes the natural minor and raises the 7th note by a half step. This creates a stronger pull back to the “home” note, which is useful for building chords (hence the name “harmonic”).

Formula: W-H-W-W-H-WH-H

(The “WH” means a step and a half — 3 half steps. This unusual gap gives harmonic minor its distinctive, somewhat “exotic” or “Middle Eastern” sound.)

3. Melodic Minor Scale

The melodic minor raises both the 6th AND 7th notes by a half step when going UP, but plays them natural (unraised) when coming back down.

Going up: W-H-W-W-W-W-H (raised 6th and 7th) Coming down: Same as natural minor (lowered back to normal)

This scale is used more in classical and jazz music. For now, focus on natural and harmonic minor.

A Minor Scale: Three Versions

A minor is the relative minor of C major and uses all white keys in its natural form.

A Natural Minor

   Note:   A     B  -  C     D     E  -  F     G     A
   Step:      W    H      W     W    H      W     W

On your keyboard (all white keys):

All white keys from A to A — same notes as C major, just starting on A.

RH fingering: 1(A) - 2(B) - 3(C) - 1(D) - 2(E) - 3(F) - 4(G) - 5(A)

LH fingering: 5(A) - 4(B) - 3(C) - 2(D) - 1(E) - 3(F) - 2(G) - 1(A)

A Harmonic Minor

Same as natural minor but raise the G to G#:

   A - B - C - D - E - F - G# - A

Notice G is NOT highlighted (natural G) but G# (the black key) IS — that raised 7th creates the dramatic pull.

Listen to the difference — the G# creates a dramatic, almost “Arabian” pull toward the final A.

RH fingering: 1(A) - 2(B) - 3(C) - 1(D) - 2(E) - 3(F) - 4(G#) - 5(A)

LH fingering: 5(A) - 4(B) - 3(C) - 2(D) - 1(E) - 3(F) - 2(G#) - 1(A)

A Melodic Minor

Going up: raise both F to F# and G to G#:

   Up:   A - B - C - D - E - F# - G# - A
   Down: A - G - F - E - D - C - B - A  (natural minor coming down)

D Minor Scale

D minor is the relative minor of F major (both use Bb).

D Natural Minor

   Note:   D     E  -  F     G     A  -  Bb    C     D
   Step:      W    H      W     W    H      W     W

Play: D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D

D minor uses Bb (the highlighted black key) instead of B natural.

RH fingering: 1(D) - 2(E) - 3(F) - 1(G) - 2(A) - 3(Bb) - 4(C) - 5(D)

LH fingering: 5(D) - 4(E) - 3(F) - 2(G) - 1(A) - 3(Bb) - 2(C) - 1(D)

D Harmonic Minor

Raise C to C#:

   D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C# - D

E Minor Scale

E minor is the relative minor of G major (both use F#).

E Natural Minor

   Note:   E     F#  -  G     A     B  -  C     D     E
   Step:      W     H      W     W    H      W     W

Play: E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E

E minor uses F# (highlighted black key) — the same sharp as G major, its relative major.

RH fingering: 1(E) - 2(F#) - 3(G) - 1(A) - 2(B) - 3(C) - 4(D) - 5(E)

LH fingering: 5(E) - 4(F#) - 3(G) - 2(A) - 1(B) - 3(C) - 2(D) - 1(E)

E Harmonic Minor

Raise D to D#:

   E - F# - G - A - B - C - D# - E

The raised 7th (D#) gives it that characteristic pull toward the home note E.

Why Three Types?

You might wonder: why not just one minor scale?

Natural minor gives you the “pure” minor sound and is great for melodies.
Harmonic minor raises the 7th to create stronger chord progressions (especially the V chord — you will learn about this in Handout 9).
Melodic minor smooths out the awkward 1.5-step gap in harmonic minor, making melodies flow better when going up.

For your level right now, focus on natural minor for playing and understand that harmonic minor exists for building chords. Melodic minor can wait until you are more advanced.

Summary Table

Scale	Notes	Sharps/Flats	Relative Major
A natural minor	A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A	None	C major
D natural minor	D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C-D	1 flat (Bb)	F major
E natural minor	E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E	1 sharp (F#)	G major

Exercises

Exercise 1: A Natural Minor Scale

Play A natural minor (A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A) with your right hand using fingering 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5. Use your CT-X9000IN metronome at 60 BPM. Play up and then back down. Repeat 5 times.

Exercise 2: Major vs. Minor Comparison

Play C major (C-D-E-F-G) and then A minor (A-B-C-D-E) back to back. Listen carefully to the mood difference. Try playing them for a friend or family member and ask which sounds “happy” and which sounds “sad.”

Exercise 3: A Harmonic Minor

Play A harmonic minor (A-B-C-D-E-F-G#-A) with your right hand. Pay attention to the G# — use the black key between G and A. Listen to how the G# “pulls” strongly toward the final A.

Exercise 4: D Minor and E Minor

Play D natural minor (D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C-D) and then E natural minor (E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E). Make sure you are hitting the correct black keys (Bb for D minor, F# for E minor).

Exercise 5: Relative Pairs

Play C major, then immediately play A minor. They use the same keys but sound completely different. Now do the same with G major and E minor, and F major and D minor. Notice: same notes, different starting point, different mood.

Quick Quiz

What is the relative minor of C major? → Answer: A minor (starts on the 6th note of C major)
What is the formula for a natural minor scale? → Answer: W-H-W-W-H-W-W (Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole)
What note do you raise in harmonic minor compared to natural minor? → Answer: The 7th note (raise it by a half step)
Which minor scale uses exactly the same keys as G major? → Answer: E minor (the relative minor of G major)
What is the mood difference between major and minor? → Answer: Major sounds bright and happy; minor sounds darker, sadder, or more emotional.

Key Takeaway

Every major scale has a relative minor that uses the same notes but starts on the 6th degree, creating a completely different mood. Minor scales come in three flavors — natural (pure dark sound), harmonic (raised 7th for stronger chords), and melodic (raised 6th and 7th going up). Start with natural minor, and you will find minor keys everywhere in the music you love.